PIXE

The GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe (NMP) uses a new CSIRO design that closely integrates the beam forming lens system with the chamber, microscope and detector systems to provide good focussing performance, a normal viewing microscope and large solid-angle detectors [1,2,3]. These features are the key to its high level of performance for geological applications.

The key to this design is a new quadrupole quintuplet lens system which uses a novel design for each quadrupole, with pole-tip extensions and yoke cut-outs for detectors, permitting an effective working distance of 80 mm and unrestricted access for detectors at 135°.

Further features of the new probe include: large area X-ray, gamma-ray and particle detectors, digital signal processors, electrostatic on-demand beam-switching and scanning, Questar long-range microscope, computer-controlled sample goniometer, sample-change vacuum-lock, anti-vibration mounting, and efficient beam shaping using computer-controlled object and divergence limiting slits.