A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer

J. L. Campbell; D. D. Thomson; E. L. Flannigan; N. G. Holmes; D. W. Tesselaar; S. VanBommel

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.036

A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer

J. L. Campbell
, D. D. Thomson
, E. L. Flannigan
, N. G. Holmes
, D. W. Tesselaar
, S. VanBommel

Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In terrestrial instruments for X-ray emission analysis (e.g. X-ray fluorescence, electron microprobe) the angle of excitation and the angle of characteristic X-ray emission by samples are typically well-defined. This is not the case for the Mars rovers’ alpha particle X-ray spectrometers, necessitating use of “effective” angles in any fundamental parameters approach to spectrum fitting and derivation of element concentrations. A new Monte Carlo computation of expected characteristic X-ray yields has enabled us to examine the choice of effective angles in detail and to compare with our previous estimates; the mean angles taken over all detected events appear to be the most satisfactory approximation. These were used in our GUAPX code to process APXS spectra from ten mono-mineralic geochemical reference materials. Agreement between our concentration values and those determined by the specialist company ActLabs was excellent.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	22-29
Number of pages	8
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume	447
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.036
State	Published - May 15 2019

Keywords

Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
Calibration
Mineral standards
Monte Carlo

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10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.036

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Campbell, J. L., Thomson, D. D., Flannigan, E. L., Holmes, N. G., Tesselaar, D. W., & VanBommel, S. (2019). A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 447, 22-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.036

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abstract = "In terrestrial instruments for X-ray emission analysis (e.g. X-ray fluorescence, electron microprobe) the angle of excitation and the angle of characteristic X-ray emission by samples are typically well-defined. This is not the case for the Mars rovers{\textquoteright} alpha particle X-ray spectrometers, necessitating use of “effective” angles in any fundamental parameters approach to spectrum fitting and derivation of element concentrations. A new Monte Carlo computation of expected characteristic X-ray yields has enabled us to examine the choice of effective angles in detail and to compare with our previous estimates; the mean angles taken over all detected events appear to be the most satisfactory approximation. These were used in our GUAPX code to process APXS spectra from ten mono-mineralic geochemical reference materials. Agreement between our concentration values and those determined by the specialist company ActLabs was excellent.",

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Campbell, JL, Thomson, DD, Flannigan, EL, Holmes, NG, Tesselaar, DW & VanBommel, S 2019, 'A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, vol. 447, pp. 22-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.036

A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. / Campbell, J. L.; Thomson, D. D.; Flannigan, E. L. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 447, 15.05.2019, p. 22-29.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Campbell, J. L.

AU - Thomson, D. D.

AU - Flannigan, E. L.

AU - Holmes, N. G.

AU - Tesselaar, D. W.

AU - VanBommel, S.

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KW - Calibration

KW - Mineral standards

KW - Monte Carlo

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ER -

A re-examination of the fundamental parameters approach to calibration of the Curiosity rover alpha particle X-ray spectrometer

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