Scanning Microscopy
Abstract
When an ion beam in the energy range of a few MeV/amu impacts on a mineral, visible light can often be observed. This light, induced by energetic ions, is termed ionoluminescence (IL). The intensity and wavelength of the ionoluminescent light provide information concerning the nature of luminescence centers, such as trace substituents and structural defects, found in the mineral. This makes IL a useful complement to other methods of ion beam analysis (IBA), such as particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS), in characterizing geological samples. In the present study, a proton or alpha particle beam was used for the IL excitation and IBA with a nuclear microprobe. The results obtained with IL were compared with those of cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL).
Recommended Citation
Yang, C.; Homman, N. P. -O.; Malmqvist, K. G.; Johansson, L.; Halden, N. M.; and Barbin, V.
(1994)
"Ionoluminescence: A New Tool for Nuclear Microprobes in Geology,"
Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 9:
No.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol9/iss1/2