Synchrotron-Based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy for Art Conservation: Looking Back and Looking Forward

摘要

Avariety of analytical techniques augmented by the use of synchrotron radi-nation (SR), such as X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) and X-ray diffraction (SR-nXRD), are now readily available, and they differ little, conceptually, from theirncommon laboratory counterparts. Because of numerous advantages afforded bynSR-based techniques over benchtop versions, however, SR methods have becomenpopular with archaeologists, art historians, curators, and other researchers in thenfield of cultural heritage (CH). Although the CH community now commonly usesnboth SR-XRF and SR-XRD, the use of synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spec-ntroscopy (SR-XAS) techniques remains marginal, mostly because CH specialistsnrarely interact with SR physicists. In this Account, we examine the basic princi-nples and capabilities of XAS techniques in art preservation.