Importance of Compound Standards for EPMA of Garnet Laser Materials

摘要

The absolute necessity for compound standards for the quantitative electron probe microanalysis of garnet laser materials such as (Y,Yb)_3Al_5O_(12) or (Gd,Yb)_3Ga_5O_(12) is shown. Using a combination of commerically available standards leads to wrong quantification, even in the case when using a lower accelerating voltage to reduce absoption effects. Because no compound standards are commercially available for these materials, it is shown in the case of (Y,Yb)_3Al_5O_(12), that a ceramic standard can be prepared by solid-state sintering and referenced by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The use of such a ceramic compound standard leads to correct quantification.