Desktop Generation and Analysis of Spectra

The computer environment which allows the analyst to interact with a program by means of windows, dialogs, pull-down menus and check boxes is probably the most comfortable to the largest number of users. This environment is becoming available to both x-ray and electron energy loss analysts in commercial products and in programs written by analysts in the field. One such program for a personal computer has been under developement by the authors as a joint project at the NIH and the NIST. This program not only enables the analyst to process and display spectral data from electron column instruments but also provides the analyst the additional powerful capability to model the physical processes involved in the generation of an x-ray spectrum. The procedure to emulate the experimental environment and specimen to generate a series of spectra reflecting the relevant physics and statistics was previously described in some detail in terms of the application to estimating detection limits under proposed experimental conditions [1].