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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Analysis Of Atmospheric Aerosols Collected In An Urban Area In Upstate Ny Using Proton Induced X-Ray Emission (Pixe) Spectroscopy, Jeremy Smith
Honors Theses
We have performed a PIXE analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples collected in Schenectady, NY, to study airborne pollution in an urban environment. The samples were collected using a PIXE International, 9-stage, cascade impactor that separates the airborne particles according to aerodynamic diameter and deposits them on thin Kapton foils. The impacted foils were bombarded with 2.2-MeV proton beams from the Union College 1.1-MV Pelletron accelerator and the emitted X-rays were detected with an Amptek silicon drift detector. The X-ray energy spectra were analyzed using GUPIX software to determine the elemental concentrations in the samples. A broad range of elements from …
A Comparative Study Of Gupix And Geopixe Software In The Analysis Of Pixe Spectra Of Aerosol Samples, Sean Collison
A Comparative Study Of Gupix And Geopixe Software In The Analysis Of Pixe Spectra Of Aerosol Samples, Sean Collison
Honors Theses
Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectroscopy is a powerful tool used in the Union College Ion-Beam Analysis Laboratory for the elemental analysis of environmental pollution. Samples are bombarded with proton beams from the 1.1‐MV Pelletron accelerator and characteristic X-rays emitted from the samples are detected, resulting in X-ray energy spectra. These spectra are analyzed using software packages that fit the data and calculate the concentrations of elements in the samples. I have performed a comparative study of two of the most popular software packages, GUPIX and GeoPIXE, in the analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples to assess the strengths and weaknesses of …