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Equipment > Electron Microprobe
Electron
Microprobe
 Need elemental spatial distribution or quantitative elemental analyses
of a solid material on a micro scale? The WSU
electron probe microanalyzer may help!
The microprobe provides elemental information, either qualitative or quantitative,
about a solid substance, such as a rock, crystal, glass, alloy or thin film. The
resolution is a few microns and quantitative uncertainty is typically 1-2%
relative.
Information derived is typically a quantitative elemental analysis, an image
displaying contrast between phases (electron backscatter), or elemental (X-ray)
maps.
 Our WSU microprobe is from France, being made by Cameca Instruments. France
is the birthplace of the electron microprobe, with many of the principles developed
by R. Castaing in the 1950s. Ours was delivered and accepted in 1981. Shortly
after installation an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS) was installed. Since
that time we have added an additional Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer
(WDS) for a total of four, an electron backscatter detector, automated faraday
cup and automated stage. In 1998 we acquired NSF funding for a major
upgrade comprising refitting the spectrometers with new positioning motors,
and installed new spectrometer controlling hardware, and software automation
by Advanced Microbeam.
Our microprobe is used extensively by F. Nick Foit and his students and colleagues
for tephra identification and tephrochronology. This is also offered as a service
to off-campus groups such as consulting companies, government agencies , and
other academic institutions and is supported by an extensive searchable database
of western U.S. tephras.
The
best way to learn about the microprobe is to take GEOL 552, X-ray
Analysis in Earth Science. This course is taught in the spring of each academic
year by Dr. Nick Foit, and covers the generation and use of X-rays for geological
research; electron microprobe, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray powder diffraction. This
course is also applicable to those in other fields, such as chemistry or
materials science. |
