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Written Artefact Profiling Guide
Written ArtefactProfiling Guide

Photo: CSMC

Written Artefact Profiling Guide

XRF-Spectrometer; M6 Jetstream, Bruker Nano GmbH

CSMC

Jet Stream M6 (Bruker Nano GmbH)

This imaging spectrometer has a variable measuring spot size (75–850 µm diameter), two microscopes for sample positioning and for mapping the large areas as well as an electrothermally cooled Xflash detector (SDD, area: 30 mm2) with an energy resolution of <150 eV at 10 kcps. Its movable probe is mounted on a large frame, allowing for the mapping of surfaces up to 60 x 80 cm. Unlike the Artax, the measurement is performed “on the fly“, i.e., while the probe is moving. Typically, the measurements are made using a 30 W low-power Rh tube, operating at 50 kV and 600 µA, with an acquisition time of 2-150 ms (live time). We use this instrument to produce elemental maps of paintings, drawings, and manuscripts.

  • General description: XRF-spectrometer; no preparation of the sample required, non-destructive
  • Application aim: elemental analysis
  • Mobility: mostly stationary, hardly transportable
  • Equipment specifics:
    • X-ray source: air-cooled Rh X-ray tube
    • 10-50 kV, 5-600 μA, 30 W
    • Two built-in cameras for focusing and positioning
    • Electrothermally cooled X-flash detector (SDD, area: 30 mm2) detector
    • 80 x 60 cm2 scannable surface
  • Application requirements: controlled temperature, 18-25 oC and relative humidity ≤ 80%, safety 
  • Sample required: surface to analyse needs to be made flat
  • Contact required: no
  • Interaction spot dimensions: ~ 80 µm
  • Limitations: very limited equipment mobility, some maps can be very time-consuming depending on the size and resolution
  • Set up time: approx. 10 min
  • Average time for measuring: 2-150 ms per spot. A4 size scan can be done with reasonably good spatial (step size = 150 µm) and spectral (10 ms per spot) resolution in about 8 hours (overnight).
  • Average time for processing: can vary from a few hours to several days
  • Software package: Windows 7, Bruker M6 JetStream
  • Output: .bcf files. Individual spectra and maps can be exported as .bmp images
  • Contact: Sebastian Bosch, sebastian.bosch"AT"uni-hamburg.de
  • Location of the equipment: CSMC Lab (Warburgstr. 28, Hamburg)