L shell X-ray production cross sections for Sr and Mo by proton impact

Abstract

Total L X-ray production cross sections were measured for Sr and Mo by proton impact. Proton energies ranged from 200 keV to 3 MeV. K shell cross sections of Ti and Cu samples were obtained in order to normalize our results, bearing in mind that for those elements the cross sections have been vastly measured and modeled. The cross sections were obtained using the thick sample method and the results showed general agreement in the range of energies studied. The results obtained here for Sr and Mo are in well agreement with those predicted by the ECPSSR theory in the 500–3000 keV proton energy range. In the case of Sr and proton energies lower than 500 keV, the experimental results do not agree well to the calculated with ECPSSR, differing by values greater than 30%. This discrepancy may be due to an overstimation of the stopping power in oxides or secondary emissions that are not negligible in this energy range. All measured spectra were fitted by a novel open software for PIXE semi-quantitative analysis that take into account several physical phenomena related to X-ray production, absorption and detection.