THE RELATIVE INTENSITY FACTOR FOR L-ALPHA RADIATION CONSIDERING THE DIFFERENT MASS ABSORPTION OF L-ALPHA AND L-BETA RADIATION

The mass attenuation coefficients of L alpha and L beta radiation can differ as much as a factor of five depending on the composition of the sample. A dependence of the relative intensity factor for L alpha rad iation on the incidence energy is evident. The relative intensity fact ors are very important not only for standardless EPMA but also for EPM A with standards when an EDS system is used and the whole L-intensity is measured. In this case calculating just L alpha intensities leads t o acceptable results only if the difference between the mass attenuati on coefficients of L alpha and L beta radiation is rather small. If th e difference is significant, a much too high mass attenuation coeffici ent for L alpha is observed as can be shown mathematically. A comparis on between theoretically calculated and measured intensity factors is carried out and their energy dependence is discussed.