A simple method for subtracting background from elemental maps of scanning proton microprobe

摘要

At present, the conventional elemental mapping method for routine scanning proton microprobe analyses is the TCEW method. With this method, the elemental maps are obtained by making use of the total counts entering a simple energy window on an X-ray peak. The fatal disadvantage of this method is that the total counts entering an energy window contain the contribution of continuum background. Even when the element of interest is absent, the variation in the intensity of the background within the energy can masquerade as the distribution of the element. Hence some famous international SPM laboratories are setting about a study of the true elemental mapping methods.