Quantification of trace and minor elements

复杂样品中元素含量的测量，同时使这些样品完全完整，提出了特别的挑战。样本可以是一件独特的艺术品，一件考古文物，一个毒品或爆炸物的容器，或者一个人体。该提案涉及光谱技术的使用，即X射线荧光和中子活化，这解决了复杂样品所带来的特殊挑战。在所有这些情况下，技术的发展都牢牢地建立在物理科学的基础上。 新的光学和基于源的X射线荧光系统已被开发用于测量存储在散装，钙化样品中的锶。锶测量的重要性是因为已经证明锶药物可以降低骨质疏松症患者骨折的风险。然而，很少有人知道它的纳入和保留的骨，这项工作有可能解决。 在过去的六年里，通过设计新的探测器、实验策略和辐射/屏蔽组件，开发了类似的非破坏性方法来测定复杂钙化样品中的铝、锰和镁。 人类测量铝和锰的重要性在于它们目前在其他地方不可用。我们希望通过开发新的技术和/或方法来进一步提高测量这些通常对人类有毒的元素的能力。这些改进将导致提高灵敏度和能力，开发一种新的实验策略，同时检测骨铝和锰浓度，需要监测职业暴露于这些毒素。

The measurement of elemental content in complex samples, while leaving those samples entirely intact, presents particular challenges. The sample could be a unique work of art, an archeological artifact, a container of drugs or explosives, or a human subject. This proposal is concerned with the use of spectroscopy technique, namely x-ray florescence and neutron activation, which address the particular challenges presented by complex samples. In all these cases, the development of the techniques is firmly based in the physical sciences. The novel optical and source-based X-ray fluorescence systems have been developed to measure strontium stored in a bulk, calcified sample. The significance of strontium measurements arises because it has been demonstrated that strontium medication can reduce the risk of bone fracture in patients suffering from osteoporosis. However, little is known about its incorporation and retention by bone, which this work has potential to solve. Similar non-destructive methods to determine aluminum, manganese and magnesium in complex, calcified samples are developed by designing a new detector, experimental tactic and irradiation/shielding assembly over the last six years. The importance of human measurements of aluminum and manganese is that they are presently not available elsewhere. We would like to further improve the ability to measure these, typically toxic elements to humans, by developing a new technology and/or approaches. These improvements will lead to improved sensitivity and ability to develop a new experimental tactic for simultaneous detection of bone aluminum and manganese concentrations, required for the monitoring of occupational exposure to these toxins.