A multiwire proportional counter for XAS fluorescence experiments

A multiwire proportional counter was used in fluorescence X-ray absorption measurements and a comparison to a Si( Li) and NaI(Tl) detectors was done. The main features of the multiwire proportional counter are its high counti ng rate capability (10(7) counts.s(-1)) and large active area (6 x 6 cm(2)) . It was shown that the MWPC is suitable for fluorescence absorption. Altho ugh the maximum capability was not reached in the present experiments, it w as found that as the counting rate increase the MWPC performance became bet ter than Si(Li) detectors and shows a similar response to the scintillator counter at medium counting rates (up to 10(5) counts.s(-1)).