Data acquisition and control of wavelength and energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometers using a single minicomputer

Abstract

A laboratory minicomputer has been interfaced to both a wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer and an energy dispersive Si(Li) X‐ray detector system. In the former mode of operation, the computer is used as a controller for the setting of the goniometer, initiation of count cycle and data acquisition. In the second case, the computer serves as a substitute for the conventional multi‐channel analyzer, acquiring spectral information from an ADC associated with the energy dispersive detector. In both modes of operation, data obtained may be displayed on either an oscilloscope or X‐Y recorder. All data obtained can also be transferred to cassette storage for subsequent retrieval and data reduction in higher level programming languages such as BASIC or FORTRAN.