Introduction of PIXE analysis system in NIRS

In March 1999, electrostatic accelerator, Tandetron (Model 4117MC, High Voltage Engineering Europe Co.) was installed in the Electrostatic Accelerator Building for PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) analysis. The accelerating voltage is 0.4 to 1.7MV, and the maximum beam current is 5micro A at 3.4MeV. This system has three beam ports for different types of PIXE analysis: normal, micro-beam and in-air. The first beam port is used for normal PIXE. Since two types of X-ray detecting device, Si (Li) and CdZnTe detectors, are available here, elements from Na (Z=11) to U (Z=92) are detectable. Fifteen samples can semi automatically be measured at one time using a proton beam of optical beam size from 0.5 to 2.0 mm at 100 nA beam current. A quadrupole triplet magnet (Model OM2000, Oxford Micro beams, Ltd.) attached to the second beam port produces a proton micro-beam of square shape less than 1micron x 1 micron. Micro-beam scanning PIXE analysis is carried out with this beam at 50pA current and scanning area up to 2.0mm square. The in-air PIXE analysis is performed using the third beam port. The operation of this machine has been scheduled to start from April 2000 and is controlled by Division of Technology and Safety. Some results preliminarily obtained are also shorn

Beam alignment of scanning microbeam PIXE analysis system in NIRS

The scanning microbeam PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) analysisallows identifying the several surface elements and taking thehigh-resolution elemental maps of the specimen at a time, by using thenarrow beam downed the size to 1 micrometer and the maximum scanning area of2mm square.We are applying this system to the elements and the structure analysis forbio-cells and environmental specimens.The most important procedure to obtain the high-resolution maps isincreasing spatial resolution of the microbeam.We diagnose the resolution by using Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy(STIM) and PIXE images of the 12.5um pitch copper mesh.In this workshop, we introduce our experiences of the alignment of themicrobeam system.Workshop on Accelerator Operation(WAO) 200

Progress report of the single particle irradiation system to cell (SPICE)

At National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), we constructed a microbeam system in 2003, named Single Particle Irradiation to Cell, SPICE. From the beginning of 2005, we redesigned it to improve the stability of the optical alignment of the system, and obtained an ensured reduction rate of the beam size proportional to the openness of the objective slit in the vertical line. As a result, SPICE is now capable of producing a beam size of approximately 10 micro meter diameter, and the numbers of particles are controllable to an intensity as low as single particles per second, and single particle irradiation has been succeeded. Moreover, these conditions can be easily reproduced with a routine everyday procedure. We describe in detail the modifications of the beam line and results indicating the improvements. In addition, the result of our first biological experiments is shown.10th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Application

Introduction of micro-PIXE analysis system in NIRS

The 7 th International Conference on Nuclear Analytical Methods in the Life Scienc

Imaging of elemental distribution in the small area of biological samples- micro-PIXE analysis

Abstract Particle Induced X-ray Emission(PIXE)analysis is one of the analytical methods for elements. PIXE has high sensitivity, multi-elemental and non-destructive characteristics and the advantage of micro-beam scanning ability on the sample surface. In 1999, micro-beam scanning PIXE system was installed at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). The system allowed multi elemental mapping on 2mm x 2mm areas of small samples such as fish scales, small fish eyes, pollen etc. with a special resolution of about 1mu m with accelerated proton micro-beams produced by an electrostatic accelerator, Tandetron (Model 4117MC, High Voltage Engineering Europe Co.) and a micro-beam scanning system (Model OM2000, Oxford Micro Beams, Ltd.). Fine ring structure of a fish scale was observed with P and Ca maps. Pollen was examined to ability of the system to draw elemental distribution maps of singles cell. The distribution of elements in a thin section of Medaka eye was investigated in connection with Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM)

Introduction of PIXE anallysis system in National Institute of Radiological Sciences

An electrostatic accelerator, Tandetron (Model 4117MC, High Voltage Engineering Europe Co.) was installed in National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) for PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) analysis in 1999. The accelerating voltage is 0.4 to 1.7MV, and the maximum beam current is 5microA at 3.4MeV. This system has three beam ports for different types of PIXE analysis, conventional, micro-beam and in-air. Normal PIXE line has two types of X-ray detecting device, Si (Li) and CdZnTe detectors detectable for elements from Na (Z=11) to U (Z=92). Fifteen samples can semi automatically be measured at one time with the optical beam size from 0.5 to 2.0 mm at 100 nA of the beam current. A quadruple triplet magnet (Model OM2000, Oxford Micro beams, Ltd.) attached to the other beam port produces a proton micro-beam of the square shape less than 1micron x 1micron. Micro-beam scanning PIXE analysis is carried out with this beam at 50pA current and scanning area up to 2.0mm square. The in-air PIXE analysis is performed using the third beam port.In this paper, we introduce micro-PIXE scanning system showing the ability to draw elemental maps in a spatial resolution of about 1 µm with analyses of fish scale, fish otolith, crocus pollen and micro organisms. Fine ring structure of a fish scale was observed using elemental mapping with proton micro-beam scanning. Pollen was analyzed as one example of single cell to demonstrate the elemental distribution. Fish scale and otolith seem to be a kind of time recorder like tree rings. And the elemental composition reflects the living condition. Therefore, fish scale and otolith are possible to be used as a biological indicator.3rd International Symposium on Nuclear Analytical Chemistry (NAC-III