An off-axis STIM procedure for precise mass determination and imaging

For the precise determination of the local mass density in thin samples analysed at the Lund Nuclear Microprobe, a modified version of off-axis STIM is described. An on-axis/off-axis geometry is used where a thin C-foil, placed behind the sample scatters protons into the particle detector. The advantage of this geometry compared to the off-axis case where particles are directly scattered from the sample into the particle detector is that the energy-loss spectrum acquired is less degraded. A spectral resolution comparable to on-axis STIM is achieved at a beam current high enough to allow for a simultaneous PIXE analysis (50-100 pA). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved