FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A PORTABLE PIXE SYSTEM USING A PO-210 ALPHA-SOURCE

An alpha source which consists of 1 mCi of Po-210 electro-deposited on 1 mu m thin Ag foil attached to a ceramic backing has been prepared. The overall geometry exhibits a truncated-conical shape. The source ha s been coupled to a standard 10 mm diameter Si(Li) X-rays detector con nected to a portable electronic system (ORTEC-NOMAD), The analysed are a of the exposed samples is 16 mm in diameter. Preliminary results sta te that medium-light elements, like Ca, Ti, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni and Cu can be easily analysed at concentrations of some per cent. Lighter element s determination is affected by the enhancing presence of X-rays genera ted in the Ag foil and by some chlorine impurities. PIXE measurements of attic greek pottery sherds are discussed.