Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Volumes From Which Calcium and Phosphorus X-Rays Arise in Electron Probe Emission Microanalysis of Bone: Monte Carlo Simulation

  • Laboratory Investigations
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations of trajectories for electrons with initial energy of 10 keV through 30 keV were used to map the 3D location of characteristic x-ray photon production for the elements C, P, and Ca until the electrons either escaped as backscattered electrons (BSE) or had insignificant energy. The x-ray production volumes for phosphorus slightly exceed those for calcium, but both greatly exceed the volume through which BSE travel prior to leaving the sample. The x-ray volumes are roughly hemispherical in shape, and the oblate spheroid from which BSE derive occupies only the upper third to half the volume of x-ray generation. Energy-dispersive x-ray emission microanalysis (EDX) may not be secure as a method for the quantitation of BSE images of bone in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Ca:P elemental ratios from EDX analyses may also be imperfect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. PGT Howell KMW Davy A Boyde (1998) ArticleTitleMean atomic number and backscattered electron coefficient calculations for some materials with low mean atomic number. Scanning 20 35–40 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhs1Kqs7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. EG Vajda S Humphrey JG Skedros RD Bloebaum (1999) ArticleTitleInfluence of topography and specimen preparation on backscattered electron images of bone. Scanning 21 379–386 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7hvF2hsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10654424

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. P Roschger H Plenk K Klaushofer J Eschberger (1995) ArticleTitleA new SEM approach to the quantification of bone mineral distribution backscattered electron image grey level correlated to calcium Kα-line intensities. Scanning Microscopy 9 75–88 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXpsVCnu74%3D Occurrence Handle8553027

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. HA Bethe (1930) ArticleTitleZur Theories des Durchganges schneller Elektronen durch Materie. Ann Physik (Leipzig) 5 325–400 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaA3cXkvVenuw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. PGT Howell A Boyde (1998) ArticleTitleMonte Carlo simulation of backscattering from compounds with a low mean atomic number. Scanning 20 45–49 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhs1Kqs7Y%3D Occurrence Handle9493414

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. PGT Howell A Boyde (1999) ArticleTitleSurface roughness of preparations for BSE-SEM: the image differences and their Monte Carlo simulation. Scanning 21 361–367 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7hvF2iug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10654422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. R Herrmann L Reimer (1984) ArticleTitleBackscattering coefficient of multicomponent specimens. Scanning 6 20–29 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXlsVaqsrs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. R Gauvin G L’Esperérance S St-Laurent (1992) ArticleTitleQuantitative x-ray microanalysis of spherical inclusions embedded in a matrix using a SEM and Monte Carlo simulations. Scanning 14 37–48

    Google Scholar 

  9. K Murata K Yasuda H Kawata (1995) ArticleTitleEffects of the introduction of discrete energy loss process into Monte Carlo simulations of electron scattering. Scanning 17 228–234 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXosFehtLg%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. DE Newbury RL Myklebust (1981) A Monte Carlo electron trajectory simulation for analytical electron microscopy. RH Geiss (Eds) Analytical Electron Microscopy. San Francisco Press San Francisco 91–98

    Google Scholar 

  11. HE Bishop (1976) The history and development of Monte Carlo methods for use in X-ray microanalysis. KFJ Heinrich DE Newbury H Yakowitz (Eds) Use of Monte Carlo calculations in electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. Special Publication 460. National Bureau of Standards Washington DC 5–13

    Google Scholar 

  12. J Henoc F Maurice (1976) Characteristics of a Monte Carlo for microanalysis study of energy loss. KFJ Heinrich DE Newbury H Yakowitz (Eds) Use of Monte Carlo calculations in electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. Special Publication 460 National Bureau of Standards Washington DC 61–95

    Google Scholar 

  13. R Gauvin D Drouin (1993) ArticleTitleA formula to compute total elastic Mott cross-sections. Scanning 15 140–150 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmtFWitrw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. M Green VE Cosslett (1961) ArticleTitleThe efficiency of production of characteristic x-radiation in thick targets of a pure element. Proc Phys Soc (London) 78 1206–1214 Occurrence Handle10.1088/0370-1328/78/6/315 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF38XltVymsw%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. WH Press BR Flannery SA Teukolsky WT Vettering (1989) Numerical recipes in Pascal. Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  16. A Boyde (1984) ArticleTitleDependence of rate of physical erosion on orientation and density in mineralised tissues. Anat Embryol 170 57–62 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuA3crgsVw%3D Occurrence Handle6476409

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by INTAS grant 31864.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, The Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK

    P. G. T. Howell

  2. Department of Anatomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

    P. G. T. Howell & A. Boyde

Authors
  1. P. G. T. Howell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Boyde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. G. T. Howell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Howell, P., Boyde, A. Volumes From Which Calcium and Phosphorus X-Rays Arise in Electron Probe Emission Microanalysis of Bone: Monte Carlo Simulation . Calcif Tissue Int 72, 745–749 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-002-2010-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-002-2010-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation