DETECTION LIMITS AND ACCURACY OF THE ELECTRON AND PROTON MICROPROBE

The accuracy of and detection limits for trace element analysis using the electron and proton microprobes have been compared using glass sam ples prepared from whole rock standard powders BE-N basalt, AC-E grani te and W-2 diabase. The capabilities and advantages and disadvantages of both techniques for trace element analysis have been examined. The effect of varying the kV on the detection limits in electron microprob e analysis is examined for a number of standard reference samples for both high and low energy lines. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.