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The Microanalysis System

What makes a Good Detector?

The Pulse Processor

 

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Manganese resolution
Low energy resolution
Fluorine resolution
Incomplete charge collection
Carbon resolution
Fe55 source
Changes with time
Geometry
Summary

 

What makes a good detector?

 

The following section introduces some of the most important issues that can be used to evaluate the ability of an X-ray detector to accurately and efficiently detect X-rays.

 

Manganese resolution, MnKα FWHM

 

Resolution is quoted as the width of the peak at half its maximum height (FWHM). The lower the number the better the resolution a detector has and the better it will be at resolving peaks due to closely spaced X-ray lines

 

Manganese resolution is measured by placing a piece of pure manganese under the electron beam. On a microscope the resolution is often quoted at 1000cps. This count rate is much lower than is used in practice for most microanalysis experiments. It is important to determine whether this resolution is maintained at more realistic and productive count rates.

 

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