EMP Analysis & Imaging

Quick Link: User schedule

Our Cameca SX-100 electron microprobe is used for chemical analysis and for electron or cathodoluminescence imaging of geological, metallurgical, ceramic, glass, and other materials.

As seen on the National Geographic Channel's "Naked Science: Stone Age Apocalypse"

Laboratory Policies & Procedures (pdf)

Access

• This instrument was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and is available to all Rensselaer faculty, staff, and students as well as external academic and industry collaborators and researchers after approval by the Laboratory Manager.

• Non-Rensselaer users generally will only be able to access the facilities and instrumentation during regular business hours (M-F 8am-5pm) unless pre-approved for after-hours work by the Laboratory Manager. A list of our spectrometer crystals and rates are available here:

RPI Crystals.pdf

Rates shown are for FY 2013 and are subject to change without notice:

Academic Users: $45/hour
Operational Assist: + $25/hour
24 hours: $540 (50% discount)

Non-Academic Rates: $150/hour
Operational Assist: + $50/hour
24 hours: $1500

If you would like to use our facility, please fill out the authorization form and return it to the Lab Manager:

User Authorization Form.pdf

Training

• Users must receive proper training before being permitted access to the equipment. Training is provided by the Laboratory Manager.

• Untrained users may use the equipment if assisted by the Laboratory Manager (Additional fee applies).

• Unsupervised use of equipment by advanced users is permitted pending approval of the Laboratory Manager and passing a written exam based on the in-house ‘User Guide’.

Scheduling

• Advanced reservations are required prior to instrument usage. Times are reserved by contacting the Laboratory Manager. The user-schedule calendar is available below.

• Two time slots are available for any given day:
Slot 1: 0900 – 1700 (5 pm)
Slot 2: 1700 – 0900 (the following morning)

• Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance or a $200.00 cancellation fee will be charged.

• Users shall have a grace period of 30 minutes from the scheduled start time to use the equipment. Failure to begin usage after 30 minutes will result in a forfeited timeslot and a $200.00 cancellation charge.

• Users may request both time slots (24 hour usage), but use must start at the beginning of Slot 1 (0900) or Slot 2 (1700) in order to avoid a forfeited timeslot and cancellation fee.

Cleaning Up

• Users are responsible for keeping the equipment areas safe and clean. Failure to do so will result in loss of usage privileges.

• Users are responsible for removing samples from the instrument. Samples should also either be stored outside BC09A (in the sample preparation area) or removed from the lab entirely when not in use.

Billing

• Users must fill out a User-Authorization Form and submit it to the Laboratory Manager prior to equipment use unless otherwise instructed: User Authorization Form.pdf

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Questions about the facilities, capabilities or scheduling should be directed to the Laboratory Manager, Dr. Dan Ruscitto. View the user-schedule here.

How does it work?

The electron microprobe uses a focused electron beam to generate characteristic x-rays from a flat, polished, solid material. The intensity of these x-rays is compared to those produced on well-characterized materials in order to determine composition.

We can characterize the concentrations of elements heavier than boron (Z=5), in some instances to concentrations as low as 10's of parts per million.

We can also generate two dimensional maps showing the relative changes in intensity resulting from differences in composition. The example below shows the distribution of fluorine in a mica

 

Unfamiliar with these techniques? Click here for a general introduction.