PIXE detection limits for heavy ion projectiles

Abstract PIXE minimum detection limits, MDLs, were estimated using C2+, O2+, N2+, Ne3+, Ar6+, Kr13+, Xe20+ ion beams with an energy of 1 MeV/amu and C2+, O3+, N3+, Ne4+, Ar7+, Kr14+, Xe22+ beams with an energy of 1.6 MeV/amu as projectiles for the K-lines of the chemical elements Ti, Cr, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, and L-lines of Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag. Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Ta, W, Pb, Bi. Background spectra were obtained using 12 µm PET Hostaphan film as a backing. The results obtained for the different ion beams with the same velocities were compared. It was found that for the chemical elements with Z   51 the neon beam is preferred. The obtained results can be used to develop the quantitative analysis of the elemental composition of aerosols using PET film as a filter backing. They allow optimizing the choice of the projectile specie and energy to obtain the best detection limits of the PIXE analysis.