MODEL FOR THE BREMSSTRAHLUNG SPECTRUM IN EPMA - APPLICATION TO STANDARDLESS QUANTIFICATION

The Kramers expression was modified after fitting 52 spectra from targ ets of diverse composition at several incident energies. The function obtained describes adequately the continuum x-ray spectrum observed wh en a bulk, homogeneous and polished sample is irradiated by an electro n beam with energies ranging from 5 to 35 keV, The targets considered are pure and multicomponent, covering elements from boron to bismuth, In addition to simplicity, the new expression shows very good agreemen t with measured spectra-much closer than other models assessed. The pr oposed function was applied to a standardless quantification method ba sed on peak-to-background ratios. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.