Upgrade of the Earth & Environmental Science Electron Microprobe Laboratory at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

该项目是对伦斯勒理工学院(RPI)的地球与环境科学的电子探针实验室(EMPL)进行升级，该实验室配备了一台Cameca SX-100电子探针显微分析仪。升级包括安装一个新的计算机工作站，运行EPMA的Probe和与仪器接口的Probe Image。这次升级是基于三个主要标准：首先，举例说明了当前供应商提供的软件包(Cameca‘s Peak Sight)造成的主要限制，使用Probe Software公司提供的软件可以克服这些限制，包括(1)改进最小检测下限、精密度和准确度的新算法；(2)卓越的依赖于时间的强度校正；以及(3)改进的X射线测绘能力。第二，介绍了正在进行的和未来的项目，这些项目具有令人信服的科学价值，需要使用最先进的电子微探针进行表征。第三，该设施在高质量科学方面有着良好的记录，目前的仪器设备、成功和可持续的维护和管理计划、众多合作研究努力以及高度多样化的用户基础。RPI升级后的电子微探针实验室将通过加强目前作为区域设施的能力，使更大的伦斯勒社区和更广泛的纽约州/新英格兰北部地区受益。MPL一直并将继续向公众开放，包括本科生、研究生、博士后、研究人员以及伦斯勒大学和其他地方的教授。除了为完成各种项目的本科生免费提供分析外，该机构还每年参加埃克森美孚伯纳德·哈里斯科学夏令营，这是一个为期两周的免费项目，面向纽约首都地区的50名中学生(6-8年级)，旨在培养他们对数学和科学的终身兴趣。这次升级将极大地增强学生、访问者和新用户的学习体验，这要归功于EPMA的完全集成的、用户友好的性质，它在视觉上强调了重要的考虑因素(背景模型、随时间变化的强度校正、波扫描等)。

This project is to upgrade the Earth & Environmental Science's Electron Microprobe Laboratory (EMPL) housing a Cameca SX-100 Electron Probe Microanalyzer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The upgrade involves the installation of a new computer workstation running Probe for EPMA and Probe Image interfaced with the instrument. This upgrade was justified on the basis of three main criteria: First, examples were provided of major limitations imposed by the current vendor-supplied software package (Cameca's Peak Sight) that may be overcome using software available from Probe Software, Inc including (1) new algorithms to improve minimum detection limits, precision, and accuracy; (2) superior time-dependent intensity corrections; and (3) improved X-ray mapping capabilities. Second, a description was presented of ongoing and future projects that have compelling scientific merit and require characterization using a state-of-the-art electron microprobe. Third, this facility has had an excellent track record of high quality science with current instrumentation, a successful and sustainable maintenance and administration plan, numerous collaborative research efforts, and a highly diverse user base. An upgraded Electron Microprobe Laboratory at RPI will benefit both the larger Rensselaer Community and the broader Upstate New York/New England Region by enhancing current capabilities as a regional facility. The EMPL has been and will continue to be open to the public along with undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs, research faculty, and professors at Rensselaer and elsewhere. In addition to providing analyses free of charge to undergraduates completing various projects, this facility participates annually in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, a free two-week program for fifty middle school students (grades 6-8) from the New York Capital Region designed to instill a life-long interest in math and science. This upgrade will greatly enhance the learning experiences of students, visitors, and new users alike thanks to the fully-integrated, user-friendly nature of Probe for EPMA which visually emphasizes important considerations (background models, time-dependent intensity corrections, wave scans, etc.).