An Analysis of Secondary Enhancement Effects in Quantitative XRFA

Secondary enhancement effects are well understood and accounted for in quantitative analysis of homogeneous bulk specimens and thin films in the conventional energy range. The “conventional energy range” is closely related to the spectral distribution of the primary radiation (generally from an x-ray tube), which extends with useful intensities roughly from a few keV to about 30-60keV depending on tube design and operating conditions. It is characterized by the fact that primary excitation of fluorescent radiation at these energies by far exceeds secondary excitation.