X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

This annual review of X-ray fluorescence covers developments over the perio d 1999-2000 in instrumentation and detectors, matrix correction and spectru m analysis software, X-ray optics and microfluorescence, synchrotron XRF, T XRF, portable XRF and on-line applications as assessed from the published l iterature. The review also includes a survey of applications, covering samp le preparation, geological, environmental, archaeological, forensic, biolog ical, clinical, thin films, chemical state and speciation studies. During t he current review period, further advances have taken place in the developm ent of high resolution semiconductor detectors and in the design and applic ation of XRF instrumentation for space and planetary research. Overall, the papers reviewed here again confirm the important contribution the XRF tech nique makes to a wide range of scientific endeavour.