ENERGY STRAGGLING INDUCED ERRORS IN HEAVY-ION PIXE ANALYSIS

Numerical calculations of the heavy-ion energy straggling influence on quantitative heavy ion PIXE analysis are presented. Heavy ion electro nic straggling was calculated using semi-empirical model of Yang. Sinc e heavy ion nuclear straggling is significant and in some cases larger than the electronic one, it has also been included into the calculati ons. Energy variations of K ionization cross sections were calculated using the ECPSSR model. Results for heavy ions are compared with those for protons, for the case of heavy element analysis in a light matrix and for the case of light element analysis in a heavy matrix. Implica tions on the quantitative heavy ion PIXE analysis are discussed. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science B.V.