[en] The purpose of the present communication is to report the first results of a study devoted to the understanding of the surface roughness due either to statistical fluctuations in sputtering or sample microstructural inhomogeneities. In a second part, we shall propose a new method to correct the experimental profiles from the blurring effect of the sample roughness in typical cases of in-depth analysis

[en] This book is composed of three parts: (1) general courses on electron optics, electron emission, interactions between electrons and matter, X ray emission, X ray spectrometry, application of statistical methods in microanalysis, automation, (2) courses relating to particular disciplines: biology, geology, semiconductors, thin samples, metallurgy, (3) course on other microanalytical methods: spectroscopy of losses of energy in transmitted electrons, the laser probe in emission spectrography, the nuclear microprobe, the utilisation of Auger electrons, the analysis by secondary ionic emission

[en] The Castaing electronic probe micro-analyser makes possible static analysis at successive points. For two years this apparatus has been equipped by its constructor with an automatic device for surface scanning. In order to increase the micro-analyser's efficiency a 'linear' scan device has been incorporated making it possible to obtain semi-quantitative analyses very rapidly. (authors)

[en] A case of insufficiency fracture of the sacrum is reported. These fractures usually occur in elderly women and are secondary to various conditions, mainly postmenopausal or steroid-induced osteoporosis and radiation therapy. They are often overlooked or confused clinically and radiographically with metastatic disease. Findings on plain films are often subtle. Radionuclide bone scan shows a characteristic H or butterfly shaped pattern of increased uptake in the sacral alae. The diagnosis is confirmed by conventional tomograms or CT which show the fracture always surrounded by prominent sclerosis

[en] The energy straggling effect has been studied by Bishop (Ph.D. Thesis. Cambridge Univ. (1965)) in a Monte Carlo calculation to investigate the mean energy losses of electrons in a thick target. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate the statistical energy losses of electrons in a Monte Carlo calculation of the depth distribution of characteristic x-ray production. (author)

[en] In order to permit the estimation of the correction due to fluorescence excited by continuous radiation, we have, on the one hand, determined experimentally on a set of pure elements the ratio of the fluorescent emission to the total characteristic radiation leaving the specimen and on the other hand, calculated on the same elements the intensity of fluorescence excited by continuous radiation by means of a formula already established by one of us. The complicated part of this formula has been previously calculated on an I.B.M. computer. A few examples of fluorescence calculations are given to illustrate the use of the values obtained. (authors)

[en] The articles gathered here are easy, aimed at giving a simple, but exact and precise, view from physical basic of techniques to some recent developments

[en] The X ray spectrum emitted by a target bombarded by a suitably accelerated beam of electrons mainly comes from the inelastic interactions between incident electrons and target atoms. The X spectrum comprises (a) the continuous spectrum (also called bremsstrahlung) constituted by a continuous distribution of the intensity depending on the wave length and (b) the characteristic spectrum represented by a series of rays of variable intensity and discrete wave length (Compton and Allison - 1935)

[en] This annual report presents the highlights of the fourth year of operation of the CEA Saclay's electronic probe microanalyzer. The majority of the analyses were performed at the request of the Metallurgy Department. The improvements made on the equipment are described, in particular the acquisition of a scanning system giving an 'X'-type image of the analysed part of the sample. The study of the corrections to be applied to experimental results has led to a reexamination of the physical bases of point microanalysis and to numerous experimental verifications regarding the interpretation of quantitative results. The CEA has acquired 2 'Cameca'-type micro-analysers and one 'Cambridge'-type microanalyser for metallurgical and isotope separation researches. Their future users were trained at the laboratory. An exchange between X-ray microanalysis specialists has been also organised with a British laboratory

[en] The authors present the Castaing electron probe micro-analyser which has been installed in Saclay in January 1959 for chemical analysis purposes. In this report, they recall the principle of the chemical analysis method, indicate the involved personnel, report and comment analyses performed on the request of CEA laboratories, comment the contribution to physical fundamentals of point analysis by X spectrography, discuss possibilities of development for the apparatus, and indicate collaborations with other laboratories as well as international relationships