Matrix Iterated Spectral Interference Corrections
The fully quantitative spectral interference correction in Probe for EPMA (for points) and CalcImage (for X-ray maps) provides high accuracy minor and trace element analyses corrected for the spectral interference of one element by another.
The iterated matrix corrected interference correction in Probe Software can also quantitatively correct for elements that interfere with each other (pathological interferences), and also when one element interferes with another element, which in turn interferes with a third element (cascade interferences).
Above right, are two sulfide phases containing different amounts of sulfur which interfere with Mo La, without an interference correction applied. Below right, the same two phases with the quantitative interference correction applied, revealing the actual Mo containing phase!
- Based on the peer reviewed papers by Donovan et al. (1993 and 2021)
- Assign spectral interference corrections with a few mouse clicks
- Each analyzed element can be corrected for up to five interfering elements
- Corrections applied automatically once the assignments are specified
Example of Interference Corrections in a Complex Mineral
Below we see an example of a monazite analysis containing a number of rare earth elements, in addition to uranium, thorium and lead. There are over a dozen spectral interferences present in this sample, which are clearly visible from the analytical total which is over 103 wt%.
After confirmation that these interferences are indeed present, we can assign the interference corrections by utilizing a standard which contains the interferring element, but none of the interfered elements (or other interferring elements).
Once the quantitative interference corrections are applied, we can see that the analysis is significantly improved and the analytical totals are now close to 100 wt%.
Two Examples of the Quantitative Interference Correction Applied to X-ray Map Pixels
We can apply the same quantitative interference correction to each of our pixels, as we do with our point analyses.
Every X-ray map pixel deserves the same level of quantification accuracy as every point analysis!
Above left is an example, as we saw above, of the quantitative interference being applied to an X-ray map of Mo La in two different sulfide compositions (chalcopyrite and pyrite) where the measurement of Mo Ma is interfered by the S Ka emission line.
Note that the small phase actually containing Mo is overwhelmed by the S Ka interference without the quantitative spectral interference correction.
In this example, the slice feature has been applied to cross section the two phases revealing that the Mo content is now essentially zero within the two sulfide phases, and within the level of mapping precision!
To the middle left is an example of the quantitative interference correction on a map of Cerium interfered by Barium before the quantitative interference correction is applied.
Note that the phase containing Ba (green color) appears to contain Ce, but this is a spectral interference artifact, which must be corrected for, in order to obtain accurate Ce X-ray maps.
And now, below left, we have the same Ce X-ray map after the quantitative interference correction has been applied, in which we can see that the Ce X-ray map is no longer interfered by the Ba containing phase and is displaying a much more accurate Ce content.
Ensure the accuracy of your X-ray map quantification by applying our quantitative interference correction on your X-ray maps!