A 1–3 micron electron probe of simplified design has been constructed for x‐ray spectrochemical analysis of metallic and nonmetallic specimens. At operating conditions of 20–30 kv and less than 0.1 microampere beam current, counting rates of about 3000 counts per second are obtained from pure elements such as iron; thus compositions as low as a few tenths percent are detectable. At increased voltage and current and with a beam size of 10–20 micron, counting rates may be increased to 50 000 counts per second. Applications include analysis of inclusions in metals and minerals, mass transfer material from liquid‐metal cooling systems, phase composition, and intermetallic diffusion studies.

Topics
Microanalyzer, Liquid metals, Leptons, Transition metals, X-ray spectrochemical analysis
1.
(a) R. Castaing and A. Guinier; Proc. 1949 Conf. Electron Microscopy, Delft, Netherlands, 1950;
(b) see also R. Castaing, thesis, University of Paris, 1951.
2.
M. E. Haine, Associated Electrical Industries, Aldermaston, Berkshire, Great Britain (private communication).
3.
R. M. Fisher, Denver Research Symposium 1956, Denver, Colorado;
L. S. Birks and E. J. Brooks, Denver Research Symposium 1956, Denver, Colorado.
4.
R. Castaing, Laboratories No. 17, 7 (1956).
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G.
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© 1957 The American Institute of Physics.
1957
The American Institute of Physics
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