Luis Peralta et al 2008 Eur. J. Phys. 29 901 doi:10.1088/0143-0807/29/5/004
Luis Peralta1,2, Ana Catarina Farinha1,2 and Florbela Rego2,3
Show affiliationsX-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive technique that allows elemental composition analysis. In this paper we describe a prescription to obtain the elemental composition of homogeneous coins, like 50 cent Euro coins, and how to get the quantitative proportions of each element with the help of Monte Carlo simulation. Undergraduate students can carry out both the laboratory work and the simulation, thus exploiting an analysis technique widely employed in contemporary physics.
01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
82.80.Ej X-ray, Mössbauer, and other gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis methods
Issue 5 (September 2008)
Received 19 March 2008, in final form 28 May 2008
Published 30 June 2008
Luis Peralta et al 2008 Eur. J. Phys. 29 901
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