DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES FOR PIXE BY MEANS OF PIXE 1: ABSORPTION CURVE

A new method has been developed to determine absorption curves which are needed to derive quantitative values in PIXE analysis. In this method two spectra obtained with absorbers of different thickness are divided by each other after background subtraction and the absorption curve can be obtained immediately. Absorption curves for a 50 and a 200 µm-thick Mylar films and that for a Cr foil of 2500 µg/cm² were determined experimentally. These curves are in good agreement with the absorption values derived from peak areas of characteristic x-rays. This method enables one to obtain absorption curves for any kind of absorber accurately and quickly.