Comparison between two x‐ray analysis software packages

Abstract

Abstract Different types of software for evaluating element concentrations from XRF spectra are based on different concepts and accordingly approach the problem in different mannners. Two software packages for analysis of XRF data were compared, the AXIL package, commercially available from Canberra‐Packard, and the XRFAES package, developed and used at the Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg. The experimental set‐up is presented and a presentation of the packages is given. The comparison is based on evaluation of biological and thin‐film samples and deals with: the possibility of analysing samples of different sizes, how the programs react to more or less erroneous input values of gain and zero energy and ease of use, i.e. calibration and different ways of entering input parameters and displaying results.