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This content will become publicly available on October 1, 2026

Title: Prototype magnetic deflector system for light element particle induced X-ray emission analysis
The improvements made to ultra-thin windows for X-ray detectors in recent years have allowed for the detection of elements as light as lithium. However, their use with particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectroscopy typically requires the addition of an absorber thick enough to prevent backscattered ions from reaching the detector. This also prevents lower energy (< 1 keV) X-rays from reaching the detector. By using a magnetic field to deflect backscattered ions away, the absorber can be eliminated, allowing for the detection of ultra-low energy X-rays. At the Ion Beam Laboratory of the University of North Texas, a prototype PIXE system using a magnetic deflector has been developed to allow for the detection and measurement of X-rays from light elements using a silicon drift X-ray detector with an ultra-thin window. With an average magnetic flux density of 0.88 T along the center, backscattered protons of an energy up to 1.22 MeV were successfully deflected away from the X-ray detector. Light element PIXE was performed with a 1 MeV proton beam on manganese oxide, sodium chloride and a Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaf. Elements of 5 ≤ Z ≤ 30 were successfully detected.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2210722
PAR ID:
10632039
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Radović, Iva Bogdanović; Lorenz, Katharina; Wang, Yongqiang; Yasuda, Kazuhiro
Publisher / Repository:
Elesevier
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume:
567
Issue:
C
ISSN:
0168-583X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
165837
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Magnetic Deflection, PIXE, RBS, Low-Z Light element X-ray, Backscattered protons
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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