The authoritative handbook to exploiting the full power and versatility of PIXE— now and in the next century Respected for its practical accuracy and detection range of parts per million, particle-induced X-ray emission has enjoyed a secure place in the analytical arsenal of the nuclear physics laboratory. Yet, its undeniable analytical potential in other areas of science has scarcely been tapped. This unique reference, from PIXE specialists in biomedicine, atmospheric science, earth science, and art and archaeology, features a user-based look at PIXE's conceptual basics and methodology, with a view toward new and creative analytical work. Touching on every facet of PIXE technology, from basic instrumentation, specimens, the characteristics of X-ray spectroscopy, standardization of quantitative analysis, to the accuracy of PIXE analysis and its limits of detection, the book offers an unprecedented look at the newer uses of PIXE in such areas as: Applications of macro- and micro-PIXE in medicine, zoology, and botany Analysis of atmospheric aerosols Geological and extra-terrestrial material Analysis of gem stones, pottery, glass, and alloys As an exploratory tool for pigments and paintings and "paper-like" materials Complete with a comparative look contrasting PIXE with more conventional forms of analysis, this important reference is key to grasping the technique's practical specifics and exploiting its full analytical potential.

Until the 1980s, researchers studied and measured only the physical properties of aerosols. Since the 80s, however, interest in the physicochemcal properties of aerosols has grown tremendously. Scientists in environmental hygiene, medicine, and toxicology have recognized the importance held by the chemical composition and properties of aerosols and the interactions of inhaled, "bad" aerosols. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of modern aerosol analytical methods, sampling and separation procedures, and environmental applications, and offers critical reviews of the latest literature. This important field has developed rapidly in the last 15 years, but until now, no book effectively summarized or analyzed the existing research. Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols reviews procedures, techniques, and trends in the measurement and analysis of atmospheric aerosols. With contributions from acknowledged, international experts, the book discusses various methods of bulk analysis, single particle analysis, and the analysis of special aerosol systems, including fibrous and bacterial aerosols.

Raman Spectroscopy in Archaeology and Art History highlights the important contributions Raman spectroscopy makes as a non-destructive method for characterising the chemical composition and structure and in determining the provenance and authenticity of objects of archaeological and historical importance. It brings together studies from diverse areas and represents the first dedicated work on the use of this technique in this increasingly important field. Coverage includes: An Introduction to Raman Spectroscopy, including practical aspects of Raman spectroscopy and complementary techniques; Dyes and Pigments; Artefacts; Biological Materials and Degradation; Jewellery and Precious Stones. The book contains a broad selection of real-world examples in the form of case studies to provide the reader with a true appreciation of the procedures that need to be invoked to derive spectroscopic information from some of the most challenging specimens and systems. Colour illustrations of objects of investigation and a database of 72 Raman spectra of relevant minerals are included. With its extensive examples, Raman Spectroscopy in Archaeology and Art History will be of particular interest to specialists in the field, including researchers and scientific/conservation staff in museums. Academics will find it an invaluable reference to the use of Raman spectroscopy.

This book mostly contains contributions by the invited lecturers at the 7th International Conference on Non-Destructive Testing and Micro-Analysis for the Diagnostics and Conservation of the Cultural and Environmental Heritage. The contributors have all been chosen for their individual reputations and the quality of their research, but also because they represent a field deemed highly important. Hence, this book give balanced coverage of the areas that are most relevant in non-destructive testing and micro-analysis in the realm of cultural heritage. The analysis methods provide the clinical composition of cultural artifacts to elucidate their provenance, the rate of alteration as a result of exposure to the environment and the effectiveness of conservation and restoration strategies. The techniques are partially or fully non-destructive, are portable, or allow study of different parts of a heterogeneous work of art.

The first comprehensive review of the basic physics, and modern applications, of proton-induced x-ray emission. The physics section and the applications section are relatively independent, making for easy reference. The authors discuss instrument design, and how to handle specimens. They then survey the wide range of applications to which proton-induced x-ray emission has been put. Illustrated.

While there has always been a large public interest in ancient pictures painted or carved on stone, the archaeological study of rock art is in its infancy. But intensive amounts of research has revolutionized this field in the past decade. New methods of dating and analysis help to pinpoint the makers of these beautiful images, new interpretive models help us understand this art in relation to culture. Identification, conservation and management of rock art sites have become major issues in historical preservation worldwide. And the number of archaeologically attested sites has mushroomed. In this handbook, the leading researchers in the rock art area provide cogent, state-of-the-art summaries of the technical, interpretive, and regional advances in rock art research. The book offers a comprehensive, basic reference of current information on key topics over six continents for archaeologists, anthropologists, art historians, and rock art enthusiasts.

This book will introduce the reader to the wide variety of analytical techniques that are employed by those working on the conservation of materials. An introduction to each technique is provided with explanations of how data may be obtained and interpreted. Examples and case studies will be included to illustrate how each technique is used in practice. The fields studied include: inorganic materials, polymers, biomaterials and metals. Clear examples of data analysis feature, designed to assist the reader in their choice of analytical method.

This book compares and offers a comprehensive overview of nine analytical techniques important in material science and many other branches of science. All these methods are already well adapted to applications in diverse fields such as medical, environmental studies, archaeology, and materials science. This clearly presented reference describes and compares the principles of the methods and the various source and detector types.

Airborne particulate matter - especially aerosols, its origin, its impact on our environment, and its properties - has been of great scientific and public concern for many years. In this volume experts discuss in depth all relevant issues of airborne particulate matter, including the characterisation of aerosols by modern physical and chemical methods.