How a small accelerator can be useful for interdisciplinary applications part II: cultural heritage studies

Supporting the knowledge of artworks, past times and civilizations by physics and, in general, sciences have been now recognised to be a very valuable possibility, even though scientific measurements cannot definetely replace historical archaeological studies. In this framework, small particle accelerators, i.e., low voltage electrostatic systems, can play an important role for both material analysis dating purposes. The present paper will review main principles ion beam analysis, particular PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission), study composition artworks accelerator mass spectrometry measurement 14C dating. Advantages, limitations outlooks are discussed.