The Dow Chemical Company

John W Thompson

Arthur J Kamp

Edward R Sederlund

A nuclear pulse counting experiment, such as typified by the art of X-ray fluorescence empolys a multichannel analog to digital converter (ADC) which is interfaced with a microprocessor to yield sample/matrix concentration data, as an illustrative example, with a precision which is given by the theoretical nuclear decay statistical limits. In specific regard to X-ray fluorescence analysis, the ADC characterizes each pulse or count according to magnitude without conventional backscatter peak gain stabilization. The data is transferred through a buffer to the microprocessor, which scans the higher energy characterizations for maximum count, identifies that characterization as the peak, .+-. 1 characterization, and interpolates to develop a refined backscatter peak, stated to at least 1/10 of a characterization, and from which data base all ensuing calculations are predicated.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

John W Thompson