Development of non destructive elemental analyses of bulk samples using techniques derived from atomic and nuclear physics

了解一个物体的元素含量是至关重要的。例如，一个人骨骼中的铅含量可以提供有关其铅暴露史的信息。一幅画中颜料的元素轮廓可以确定它是何时画的，也许还能确定它是否是真品。对于分析人或独特的文物，测量必须不伤害对象，也就是说，它必须是非破坏性的。在McMaster，我们专注于开发非破坏性测量散装样品元素含量的方法。主要使用的两种方法是X射线荧光法和中子活化法。这一建议在开发非破坏性测量铀（例如骨中的铀）的方法方面开辟了新天地。我们还将检查中子活化和X射线荧光来测量硒，这是必不可少的少量。这两种方法都有希望，我们需要彻底调查，以确定哪种方法最好，在什么情况下。对于其他一些元素，例如镉和钆，我们将在我们以前的工作基础上改进测量系统，以便检测通过环境暴露的低水平积累（对于镉），或作为磁共振成像造影剂使用后的残留保留（对于钆）。这些技术是应用物理学。然而，整体研究是多学科的，因为开发该技术的物理学家与环境科学家和健康科学调查人员密切合作，应用这些方法来了解更多关于特定情况的信息。我们之前的大多数应用领域都与人类健康有关，但这些方法可以应用于其他领域，例如文物检查、评估潜在的非法材料或威胁检测。*使用这种设备进行的大多数新研究将由研究生和其他受过培训的高素质人员进行。这将为这些学生提供机会，提高他们的研究经验，并为他们随后在工业，政府科学，医疗保健技术和学术界的领导角色做好准备。

Knowing the elemental content of an object can be vitally important. For example, the amount of lead in a person's bone gives information about their history of exposure to lead. The elemental profile of the pigments in a painting can determine when it was painted and perhaps whether it is genuine. For analysis of people or unique cultural artifacts, it is essential that the measurement not harm the object, that is, it must be non destructive. At McMaster, we specialise in developing methods of measuring elemental content of bulk samples non destructively. The two main methods used are x-ray fluorescence and neutron activation.******This proposal breaks new ground in developing a non destructive method of measuring uranium, for example in bone. We shall also examine both neutron activation and x-ray fluorescence to measure selenium, which is essential in small quantities. Both methods show promise, we need to investigate thoroughly to determine which is best and in which circumstances. For some other elements, for example cadmium and gadolinium we shall be building on our previous work to improve measurement systems, in order to detect low level accumulation through environmental exposure, in the case of cadmium, or the residual retention following use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, in the case of gadolinium.******The techniques are applied physics. However, the overall research is multidisciplinary, because the physicists who develop the technique work closely with environmental scientists and health science investigators to apply these methods to learn more about specific situations. Most of our previous areas of application have concerned human health, but the methods can be applied in other areas, such as examination of cultural artifacts, or in assessing potential illicit materials or in threat detection.******Most of the new research with this equipment will be carried out by graduate students and other highly qualified personnel in training. This will provide opportunities for these students to enhance their research experience and prepare them for their subsequent leadership roles in industry, government science, health care technology and academia.**