Quantitative elemental analysis of a specimen in air via external beam laser-driven particle-induced x-ray emission with a compact proton source

Year: 2024

Authors: Salvadori M., Brandi F., Labate L., Baffigi F., Fulgentini L., Galizia P., Koester P., Palla D., Sciti D., Gizzi L.A.

Autors Affiliation: Ist Nazl Ott CNR INO, Consiglio Nazl Ric, Via Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Tecnol & Sostenibil Sviluppo Materiali Ceram CNR I, Ist Sci, Consiglio Nazl Ric, Faenza, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucleare INFN, Sez Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Abstract: Particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) is a well-established ion-beam analysis technique, enabling quantitative measurement of the elemental composition of a sample surface under an ambient atmosphere with an external beam, which significantly simplifies the measurements, and is strictly necessary for those samples that cannot sustain a vacuum environment. Few-MeV electrostatic proton accelerators are used today in PIXE systems. We present here an external beam PIXE methodology based on a compact laserdriven proton accelerator. A 10-TW class ultrashort laser is used to generate a few-MeV proton beam, and a compact transport magnetic beamline is used to collect and transport the proton beam and to prevent unwanted fast electrons from reaching the sample. An x-ray CCD camera in single-photon detection mode is used to retrieve the spectrum of radiation emitted by the samples upon proton irradiation in air. Elemental composition analysis is performed and validated against standard energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, demonstrating quantitative and accurate external beam PIXE analysis with compact laser-driven accelerators.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED

Volume: 21 (6)      Pages from: 64020-1  to: 64020-9

More Information: The authors acknowledge the following funding sources: Regione Toscana (POR FSE 2014-2020) and VCS srl company (Parma, Italy) with the grant Laser- PIXE within the research program ARCO-CNR; CNR-funded Italian research network ELI-Italy (D.M. No.631 08.08.2016); JRA ENI-CNR on Fusion Energy (CUP B34I19003070007, CNR DFM.AD006.155); EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program EuPRAXIA Preparatory Phase, under Grant Agreement No. 101079773; and IFAST, under Grant Agreement No. 101004730. This research has been co-funded by the European Union NextGeneration EU Integrated Infrastructure Initiative in Photonic and Quantum Sciences, I-PHOQS (IR0000016, ID D2B8D520, and CUP B53C22001750006), and EuPRAXIA Advanced Photon Sources, EuAPS (IR0000030 and CUP I93C21000160006). F.B., L.L., and M.S. contributed equally to this work.
KeyWords: Design; Line
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.21.064020