APPLICATION LIMITS IN USING BACKSCATTERED RADIATION FOR MATRIX CORRECTION IN X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS

The known relations of sample element concentration to X-ray fluorescence and backscattered radiation and the correlated cross-sections are investigated for atomic numbers between 6 and 92. Calculations were performed using tabulated coefficients. Results show that coherent scattered primary radiation cannot be used as a check point for matrix correction. Only incoherent scattering on well defined conditions makes it possible to determine a mean value of mass attenuation coefficient. Thus incoherent scattered radiation allows matrix correction using the fluorescence-to-Compton-ratio. application limits of this method are discussed for applying to geological samples.