Improvements of portable energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence instrument: Resolution withSilicon Drift Detector, measurements stability using pyroelectric sources, and adaptation for space use

Abstract

An energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence instrument has been developed to be used for space exploration. In particular, the electronic readout has been redesigned to withstand the radiation environment of space and improve the energy resolution down to 121.17 eV using an Silicon Drift Detector (SDD). Besides, the instrument uses pyroelectric sources as excitation sources. We include a renormalization to reduce measurement fluctuation from 25.2% to 3.7%. A peak search algorithm has been implemented based on calibration to improve accuracy and reduce possible aging drift effects.

Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its special applications

“…1,2,5 Although EDXRF spectrometry is a well-established technique, new developments and soware improvements continue to be made. In an EDXRF system using pyroelectric sources developed 76 for use in space exploration, a redesigned electronic readout for an SDD gave an energy resolution as low as 121.17 eV. The measurement repeatability was improved from 25.2 to 3.71% when the spectrum was renormalised using an indium thin wire reference.…”