The external milli-beam PIXE setup is located at the 5MV Van de Graaff accelerator of Wigner FK (Wigner Research Centre) The properly collimated proton beam of 2-3 MeV energy is extracted from the evacuated beam pipe to air through a 7.5 micrometer thick Kapton foil. Target-window distance of 10 mm was chosen for the measurements at which point the beam diameter is about 1.5 mm. The objects to be analysed are fixed to a micro-manipulator making possible three-dimensional positioning. This tool can be chosen only together with neutron techniques, as a complementary technique.
Potential Results
Major- and trace element analysis for provenance studies, workshop identification or authenticity studies. Compositional information can be obtained from the upper 10-100 micrometer of the objects.