External Proton Induced Gamma and X-Ray Emission (PIGE and PIXE) for Elemental Analysis of Dust Pollutants

GUNNAR BROWN, William Kacey, Graham Peaslee, University of Notre Dame

     Abstract Number: 42
     Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods

Abstract
Proton Induced Gamma and X-ray Emission (PIGE and PIXE) are standard Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) techniques at accelerator facilities to precisely measure isotopic and elemental abundances in samples such as environmental aerosol samples. While performing this in vacuum has been standard procedure and offers excellent sensitivities, it also limits the number and size of samples that can be run. To increase productivity, the St. Andre facility at Notre Dame has been conducting PIGE and PIXE experiments ex vacuo expanding the application of these IBA techniques as rapid scanning techniques. Large sample throughput and rapid analysis increases viability of these techniques for health and environmental applications, particularly time sensitive projects and large scale sampling campaigns such as indoor air and dust across a city. This technique can be applied to quantifying ex vacuo measurements of particulate matter (PM) aerosol pollution which would benefit from rapid screening due to the large amounts of samples. Preliminary data from Indiana will be discussed.