Nuclear microprobe and nuclear reaction spectrometry at a few square micrometer level: myth or reality

Proton induced X-ray emission and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry ar e the most often used IBA methods in conjunction with a nuclear microprobe. Their main advantages derive both from the corresponding cross sections ha ving relatively high values and their multielemental response. mu PIXE allo ws one to reach the spatial distribution of elements with Z > 12 and mu RBS permits the study of multilayered solids with a good selectivity for thin heavy element layers deposited on light substrates. Nuclear reactions on th e other hand generally exhibit low cross section values but are well adapte d for light element isotope measurements in ally substrate. This paper inte nds to provide an overview of nuclear reaction spectrometry analytical capa bilities using H-1, H-2, He-3 or He-4 microbeams. Practical performances su ch as selectivity, sensitivity, total analysable depth and depth resolution are discussed. Finally, application examples are presented in the followin g areas: metallurgy and material sciences, earth sciences and cosmochemistr y, biochemistry and archaeometry. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.