Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer system using a low-level radioisotope ^55Fe

It is well known that the detection of light elements is difficult using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer with 241Am (1.85 MBq) as the radiation source. In this study, 55Fe (3.7 MBq) was used as the radiation source instead of 241Am, and the beryllium cover of the detector window was thinned in order to increase the sensitivity. As a result, light elements from Si to K could be identified by the investigated method. This method will be effective to specify mineral pigments of mural paintings.