X-ray Fluorescence - Other Spectroscopic Methods Using The Same Principle

Other Spectroscopic Methods Using The Same Principle

It is also possible to create a characteristic secondary X-ray emission using other incident radiation to excite the sample:

• electron beam: electron microprobe (or Castaing microprobe);
• ion beam: particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE).

When radiated by an X-ray beam, the sample also emits other radiations that can be used for analysis:

• electrons ejected by the photoelectric effect: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), also called electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA)

The de-excitation also ejects Auger electrons, but Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) normally uses an electron beam as the probe.

Confocal microscopy X-ray fluorescence imaging is a newer technique that allow control over depth, in addition to horizontal and vertical aiming, for example, when analysing buried layers in a painting.