The effect of geometry on the fluorescence radiation field

In X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, a photon beam is focused on the sample to induce the production of characteristic radiation carrying useful inform ation on the composition of the target. Even if the interpretation of the m easurement is simple, the quantification of the total emitted intensity is not straightforward because the primary photons are produced deep in the ta rget and the radiation reaching the detector can be sensibly modified by th e interactions which the photons undergo before leaving the specimen. In th is work we show that the geometry of the system plays an important role in determining the properties of the radiation field. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.