Charged particle activation analysis for surface oxygen under various ambient pressures

Abstract

Charged particle activation analysis has proved to be useful for the determination of surface oxygen under any atmospheric conditions. The¹⁶O(³He, p)¹⁸F reaction was used for activation. The sample in a form of two plates was contacted intimately with each other and bombarded with³He particles of such an energy as to give the maximum cross section at the inside surfaces of the plates. The¹⁸F thus formed in the forward plate was then measured. Oxygen in the gap between the two plates can be shown to cause no noticeable interference. This method was applied to silicon, aluminium and lead in four different ambient pressures.