.impDAT format

[John Donovan]

Ha!   We've got just what you need: that is, the Correlated Pixel Quantification (CPQ) method described here:

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=114.0

Basically one acquires maps (or line scans) using the same map acquisition method on both the unknown *and* the standards, so that the k-ratio for the quantification can be constructed using the corresponding pixel intensities from the unknown maps and the standard maps.

We originally wrote the CPQ method with Philippe Pinard (when he was at Aachen using the 8530 there) in an effort to better quantify trace carbon in steel, but we found that although it works great for correction of low mag beam scan x-ray maps which show Bragg defocussing, the carbon contamination in his instrument (even though it was dry pumped) wasn't reproducible enough to normalize out the carbon contamination effect as seen here:

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=48.msg339#msg339

What he was attempting to do was measure the carbon background on a pure iron standard, which is essentially a version of the MAN method, though using only a single standard.  I was also able to show that using several standards for the carbon MAN background correction, one could do quite well:

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=48.0

Using multiple standards for the MAN calibration means that one can correct for background on arbitrary alloy compositions. However, eventually Philippe found that by starting the line scan some distance ahead of the area of interest, the carbon contamination rate would stabilize enough to get reproducible trace carbon measurements.

Since then, I was able to show that using the (scanning) TDI method one can obtain good trace carbon measurements, even on my DP pumped system on my SX100 at UofO (though it does have a 100K cryo baffle which helps greatly):

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=48.msg3416#msg3416

So, yes, we could use your standard and background maps to quantify your old maps. That is, as long as they were acquired with the same pixel resolution. If not, there's another way to import the standard intensities into Probe for EPMA, but we can discuss that later.

[neko]

So, yes, we could use your standard and background maps to quantify your old maps. That is, as long as they were acquired with the same pixel resolution. If not, there's another way to import the standard intensities into Probe for EPMA, but we can discuss that later.

Hi-5 past self, Hi-5 John! Everything was recorded with exactly the same conditions including dwell time and spot size.

[Philipp Poeml]

I think we have PeakSigh 5.0.

Cheers
Ph