CM on Inter-comparison of PIGE Analysis Codes
Purpose
In IBA techniques such as RBS, EBS and NRA, inter-comparisons of available analysis codes have already been performed (see M. Mayer et al., NIMB 385, 65-73 (2016); N.P. Barradas et al., NIMB 268, 1829-1832 (2010); NIMB 262, 281-303 (2007); E. Rauhala et al., NIMB 244, 436-456 (2006); IAEA TECDOC-1342, Vienna 2003). These inter-comparisons have concluded that the widely used codes are compatible and provide consistent results. For PIGE analysis, although the technique is well-established since the 60s, such an inter-comparison has not been performed. As a consequence, the technique is normally applied by comparing with well-defined standards. The potential of standardless PIGE was already stressed by the IAEA CRP on PIGE (2013-2017) (IAEA TECDOC-1822, Vienna 2017), however, the lack of validated PIGE analysis codes has not allowed this potential to be fully exploited.
To address this gap in PIGE analysis software, the IAEA has coordinated a systematic inter-comparison of available IBA codes. The inter-comparison focused on establishing the consistency of the codes for bulk analysis as a first step.
The overall objective of the coordinated project: establish the consistency of available PIGE analysis codes and make recommendations to the user community.
Codes: SIMNRA, ERYA, PIGRECO, NDF
The meeting was held at the IAEA, from 1-4 October 2018, to discuss the results of the inter-comparison, decide on further actions and prepare the results for publication.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting describing the exercise, results, discussion and recommendations including the meeting agenda are available here.
Results published
The results of the meeting and project on Inter-comparison of PIGE Analysis Codes have been published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms and are available from here.