Heavy Ion-Induced Characteristic X-Ray Generation as an Analytical Probe

1970 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 173-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cairns ◽  
D. F. Holloway ◽  
R. S. Nelson

AbstractIncreasing attention is currently focused on the generation of characteristic x-ray by proton irradiation. This has the advantage of yielding “clean” x-ray- i. e. free from background brerasstrahlung radiation, from even the lightest elements. The disadvantage is that the yields are naturally much lower than those produced by electrons of the same energy. A recent study has extended characteristic x-ray production to a variety of heavy ions and has shown that the cross- sections for the production of clean x-rays are often higher , by as much as several orders of magnitude, than those produced by protons of the same energy. In addition, there has emerged a further advantage, viz. the ability of specially chosen heavy ions to excite characteristic x-ray from a particular element in a selective manner. Since heavy ions penetrate only a few hundred Angstroms in to most solids, the phenomenon can be used as the basis of a technique for the examination of surface deposits, or to measure depth distributions of impurities. For example, Kr ions can be used t o determine the range distribution of antimony which had been implanted in to silicon at 100 keV. The antimony concentration was determined as a function of ∼ 150 Å steps, and was found to exhibit a maximum concentration of ∼ 1 part in 103 of silicon at 450 Å below the surface, falling to zero concentration at ∼2000 Å a depth. In the past, in order to obtain the required degree of sensitivity, such range determinations have relied on radio active tracer techniques.An entirely new type of proportional counter has been developed during the course of these studies. This instrument, because of its special construction, can be positioned very close to targets in non-dispersive studies, so as to collect the highest possible fraction of emitted x-ray. It incorporates a replaceable anode unit, together with a built- in miniature head amplifier, and exhibits extremely good performance, particularly for ultra-soft x-ray. In addition, rotation of a dial on the end of the counter body allows alteration of the active gas volume during operation, and so permits tuning into x-rays of a particular energy.

1991 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. TERASAWA

K, L, and M X-rays in the wavelengths between 6Å and 130Å generated by the bombardment of 200 keV protons and other heavy ions were measured by means of a wavelength dispersive Bragg’s spectrometer. The X-ray peak intensity was fairly high in general, while the background was very low. The technique was favorably applied to a practical analysis of several light elements (Be, B, C, N, O, and F). Use of moderate-energy heavy ions considering the wavelength selectivity in X-ray generation was effective for the element analysis. The high-resolution spectrometry in the analytical application of ion-induced X-ray generation was found to be useful for the study of fine electronic structure, e.g. satellite and hypersatellite X-ray study, and of the chemical state of materials.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S251) ◽  
pp. 369-370
Author(s):  
S. Pilling ◽  
D. P. P. Andrade ◽  
A. C. F. Santos ◽  
H. M. Boechat-Roberty

AbstractWe present experimental results obtained from photoionization and photodissociation processes of abundant interstellar methanol (CH3OH) as an alternative route for the production of H3+ in dense clouds. The measurements were taken at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) employing soft X-ray and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were obtained using the photoelectron-photoion coincidence techniques. Absolute averaged cross sections for the production of H3+ due to molecular dissociation of methanol by soft X-rays (C1s edge) were determined. The H3+'s photoproduction rate and column density were been estimated adopting a typical soft X-ray luminosity inside dense molecular and the observed column density of methanol. Assuming a steady state scenario, the highest column density value for the photoproduced H3+ was about 1011 cm2, which gives the ratio photoproduced/observed of about 0.05%, as in the case of dense molecular cloud AFGL 2591. Despite the small value, this represent a new and alternative source of H3+ into dense molecular clouds and it is not been considered as yet in interstellar chemistry models.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kotaro Matsumoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Saitoh ◽  
Tan Le Hoang Doan ◽  
Ayumi Shiro ◽  
Keigo Nakai ◽  
...  

Abstract Synchrotron generated monochromatic X-rays can be precisely tuned to the K-shell energy of high Z materials resulting in the release of the Auger electrons. In this work, we have employed this mechanism to destruct tumor spheroids. We first loaded gadolinium onto the surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) producing gadolinium-loaded MSN (Gd-MSN). When Gd-MSN was added to the tumor spheroids, we observed efficient uptake and uniform distribution of Gd-MSN. Gd-MSN also can be taken up into cancer cells and localize to a site just outside of the cell nucleus. Exposure of the Gd-MSN containing tumor spheroids to monochromatic X-ray beams resulted in almost complete destruction. Importantly, this effect was observed at an energy level of 50.25 keV, but not with 50.0 keV. These results suggest that it is possible to use precisely tuned monochromatic X-rays to destruct tumor mass loaded with high Z materials, while sparing other cells. Our experiments point to the importance of nanoparticles to facilitate loading of gadolinium to tumor spheroids and to localize at a site close to the nucleus. Because the nanoparticles can target to tumor, our study opens up the possibility of developing a new type of radiation therapy for cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 610 ◽  
pp. A34 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Chuard ◽  
R. Terrier ◽  
A. Goldwurm ◽  
M. Clavel ◽  
S. Soldi ◽  
...  

Context. For a decade now, evidence has accumulated that giant molecular clouds located within the central molecular zone of our Galaxy reflect X-rays coming from past outbursts of the Galactic supermassive black hole. However, the number of illuminating events as well as their ages and durations are still unresolved questions. Aims. We aim to reconstruct parts of the history of the supermassive black hole Sgr A★ by studying this reflection phenomenon in the molecular complex Sgr C and by determining the line-of-sight positions of its main bright substructures. Methods. Using observations made with the X-ray observatories XMM-Newton and Chandra and between 2000 and 2014, we investigated the variability of the reflected emission, which consists of a Fe Kα line at 6.4 keV and a Compton continuum. We carried out an imaging and a spectral analysis. We also used a Monte Carlo model of the reflected spectra to constrain the line-of-sight positions of the brightest clumps, and hence to assign an approximate date to the associated illuminating events. Results. We show that the Fe Kα emission from Sgr C exhibits significant variability in both space and time, which confirms its reflection origin. The most likely illuminating source is Sgr A★. On the one hand, we report two distinct variability timescales, as one clump undergoes a sudden rise and fall in about 2005, while two others vary smoothly throughout the whole 2000–2014 period. On the other hand, by fitting the Monte Carlo model to the data, we are able to place tight constraints on the 3D positions of the clumps. These two independent approaches provide a consistent picture of the past activity of Sgr A★, since the two slowly varying clumps are located on the same wavefront, while the third (rapidly varying) clump corresponds to a different wavefront, that is, to a different illuminating event. Conclusions. This work shows that Sgr A★ experienced at least two powerful outbursts in the past 300 yrs, and for the first time, we provide an estimation of their age. Extending this approach to other molecular complexes, such as Sgr A, will allow this two-event scenario to be tested further.


2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
M. NEKAB ◽  
Ch. HEITZ

Thick targets consisting in Al/Si alloys were bombarded with 1.0 to 5.0 MeV Ar ions. The K X-ray production cross sections were deduced from the measured yields by using the Merzbacher-Lewis formula extended to heavy ion bombardment. The density dependence on the K X-ray production cross sections of Al and Si was observed. This phenomena can be interpreted within the molecular orbital double-scattering mechanism.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S332) ◽  
pp. 418-424
Author(s):  
Marina G. Rachid ◽  
K. Faquine ◽  
S. Pilling

AbstractC2H4O2 isomers, methyl formate (HCOOCH3), acetic acid (CH3COOH) and glycoaldehyde (HOCH2CHO), have been detected in a lot of sources in ISM. However, their abundances are very different, with methyl formate much more abundant than the other two isomers. This fact may be related to the different destruction by ionizing radiation of these molecules. The goal of this work is experimentally study the photodissociation processes of methyl formate and acetic acid ices when exposed to broadband soft X-ray from 6 up to 2000 eV. The experiments were performed coupled to the SGM beamline in the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Source (LNLS/CNPEM) at Campinas, Brazil. The simulated astrophysical ices (12K) were monitored throughout the experiment using infrared vibrational spectroscopy. The analysis of processed ices allowed the determination of the effective destruction cross sections of the parent molecules as well as the effective formation cross section of daughter molecular species. The relative abundance between acetic acid and methyl formate (NCH3COOH/NHCOOCH3) in different astronomical scenarios and their column density evolution in the presence of X-rays were calculated and our results suggests that such radiation field can be one of the factors that explain the difference in the isomers C2H4O2 abundances. We also quantified the daugther species after the establishment of a chemical equilibrium in the samples.


1971 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 164-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Giauque ◽  
Joseph M. Jaklevic

An x-ray fluorescence analysis method applicable to the case of fluorescent spectra excited with monoenergetic x-rays has been developed. The technique employs a minimum number of calibration steps using single element thin film standards and depends upon theoretical cross sections and fluorescent yield data to interpolate from element to element. The samples are treated as thin films and corrections for absorption effects are easily determined- Enhancement effects, if not negligible, are minimized by sample dilution techniques or by selective excitation.


1981 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
HJ Hay ◽  
LF Pender ◽  
PB Treacy

With a high-resolution Si(Li) X-ray detector, characteristic K X rays have been detected with targets of Cr, Fe, Cu, Ge and Se ombarded by 100 MeV Cu ions, equilibrated by passing through carbon. Cross sections for X-ray production, target-to-projectile vacancy-sharing ratios and K, to K, ratios were measured and compared with predictions of molecular-coupling theories. The results show little greement with existing models based on rotational coupling in molecular-orbital states.


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