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The Microanalysis System

What makes a Good Detector?

The Pulse Processor

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Manganese resolution
Low energy resolution
Fluorine resolution
Incomplete charge collection
Carbon resolution
Fe55 source
Changes with time
Geometry
Summary

What makes a good detector?

Carbon resolution CKα FWHM

It is more important to know what the resolution specification of a detector is at low energy than it is at MnKα. A detector with good energy resolution at low energy will have good resolution throughout the X-ray spectrum. The same is not true in reverse. A good manganese specification guarantees nothing about performance at low energy. This is because a measurement of resolution at low energy is affected by both noise and incomplete charge collection. The resolution of the CKα peak measured using pure carbon is very useful due to its sensitivity to incomplete charge collection. A low value guaranteed here really does mean excellent detector resolution for all energies.

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