SMALL SPOT X-RAY FLUORESCENCE (XRF) ANALYZER

摘要

A hand-held, self-contained x-ray fluorescence (XRP) analyzer (200) produces a small x-ray spot on a sample (604) to interrogate the elemental composition of a sample (604) region of millimeter-size characteristic dimension. The analyzer (200) includes an x-ray source for aiming an x-ray beam (304) toward a desired location on the sample (604). The analyzer (200) may include a digital camera (316) oriented toward the portion of the sample (604) that is, or would be, interrogated by the x-ray spot to facilitate aiming the analyzer (200). The analyzer may generate a reticule (908, 910) in a displayed image to indicate the portion of the sample (604) that is, or would be, illuminated by the x-ray beam (304). The analyzer (200) may include a detector collimator (1200) positioned along a light path between the spot and the detector (314). The analyzer (200) may include a chamber through which the beam (304) and the response signal (312) pass and a coupling for receiving an end of a purge gas tank (2502) for providing a purge gas to the chamber. The analyzer (200) may include a sensor operative to detect an amount of ambient gas present in the chamber. A calibration target (2200) and method (2300-2308) are disclosed for calibrating a location of a reticule in the analyzer (200).