Progress on the design and development of an
electronic x-ray microprobe for quantitative
and qualitative composition measurements of
about 1 cubic micron of the surface of metals
and alloys is described in this report. The
principle is that first used by Castaing, in
which the metal is subjected to bombardment
by a finely focused probe of electrons and the
elements present and their proportions are
determined by an analysis of the frequency and
intensity of the characteristic x-rays emitted.
With the first model of the instrument, it will
be possible to study the elements in the ranges
of atomic numbers 19 through 34 and 50 through
84. This report omits any theoretical treatment
of the effects of heat generated in the sample,
fluorescence radiation, or a detailed discussion
of the corrections that must be made. These
matters will be considered in a later report
