φ(ρz) Distributions in Bulk and Thin Film Samples for EPMA. Part 1: A Modified φ(ρz) Distribution for Bulk Materials, Including Characteristic and Bremsstrahlung Fluorescence

Electron probe microanalysis is a nondestructive technique widely used to determine the elemental composition of bulk samples. This was extended to layered specimens, with the development of appropriate software. The traditional quantification method requires the use of matrix correction procedures based upon models of the ionization depth distribution, the so-called phi(rho z) distribution. Most of these models have led to commercial quantification programs but only few of them allow the quantification of layered specimens. Therefore, we developed BadgerFilm, a free open-source thin film program available to the general public. This program implements a documented phi(rho z) model as well as algorithms to calculate fluorescence in bulk and thin film samples. Part 1 of the present work aims at describing the operation of the implemented phi(rho z) distribution model and validating its implementation against experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulations on bulk samples. The program has the ability to predict absolute X-ray intensities that can be directly compared to Monte Carlo simulations. We demonstrate that the implemented model works very well for bulk materials. And as will be shown in Part 2, BadgerFilm predictions for thin film specimens are also shown to be in good agreements with experimental and Monte Carlo results.

Automated summary

Electron probe microanalysis is a technique used for determining elemental composition, now extended to layered samples. BadgerFilm, a free thin film program, implements a phi(rho z) model for fluorescence calculation in bulk and thin film samples, showing good agreements with experimental and Monte Carlo results.