A method comprises the steps of: (a) Obtaining a measured X-ray spectrum for the coated sample, for determining characteristics for the sample and for a coating material; (b) Determining a simulated X-ray spectrum for the sample based on an initial sample composition; (c) Determining an adapted sample composition that improves a match between the characteristics of the sample and an adapted simulated X ray spectrum; (d) Determining an adapted coating thickness for the coating material based on the adapted sample composition and characteristics of the coating; and (e) Repeating the steps (b) to (d) using the adapted sample composition and the adapted coating thickness of the coating material instead of the initial values, wherein the coating thickness is used for determining an absorption of X-rays.

A method comprises the steps of: (a) Obtaining a measured X-ray spectrum for the coated sample, for determining characteristics for the sample and for a coating material; (b) Determining a simulated X-ray spectrum for the sample based on an initial sample composition; (c) Determining an adapted sample composition that improves a match between the characteristics of the sample and an adapted simulated X ray spectrum; (d) Determining an adapted coating thickness for the coating material based on the adapted sample composition and characteristics of the coating; and (e) Repeating the steps (b) to (d) using the adapted sample composition and the adapted coating thickness of the coating material instead of the initial values, wherein the coating thickness is used for determining an absorption of X-rays.

A method for controlling the flow of gas through a spectrometer, comprising: flowing a gas through a volume of the spectrometer, the volume being a volume through which light from a sample passes along a first path to reach a first detector and the gas being transparent to the light in a spectral region analysed by the spectrometer; transmitting light from a light source along a second path through the gas to a second detector; detecting an intensity of the light from the light source at the second detector at one or more wavelengths of the light; comparing the detected intensity of the light to a respective setpoint corresponding to a desired transmittance of the gas in the volume of the spectrometer and generating at least one error signal based on the comparison; and adjusting a flow rate of the gas through the volume of the spectrometer based on the error signal, in particular to minimise the difference between the detected intensity and setpoint.

A method for controlling the flow of gas through a spectrometer, comprising: flowing a gas through a volume of the spectrometer, the volume being a volume through which light from a sample passes along a first path to reach a first detector and the gas being transparent to the light in a spectral region analysed by the spectrometer; transmitting light from a light source along a second path through the gas to a second detector; detecting an intensity of the light from the light source at the second detector at one or more wavelengths of the light; comparing the detected intensity of the light to a respective setpoint corresponding to a desired transmittance of the gas in the volume of the spectrometer and generating at least one error signal based on the comparison; and adjusting a flow rate of the gas through the volume of the spectrometer based on the error signal, in particular to minimise the difference between the detected intensity and setpoint.

A solution is proposed for testing a luminescence imaging apparatus (105). A corresponding testing device (110) comprises one or more seats (320) and one or more containers (325), each filled with a liquid comprising at least one luminescence substance and accommodated in a corresponding seat (320); the seats (320) have corresponding windows (330) for imaging the luminescence substance of the containers (325) accommodated therein. The seats (320) are slanted with respect to a resting surface (310) of the testing device (110). A holder (305) for use in the testing device (100) is further provided. A luminescence imaging apparatus (105) for use with the testing device (110) is also proposed. Moreover, a system (100) comprising a luminescence imaging apparatus (105) and this testing device (110) is proposed.

Methods and systems for determining sensitization of an alloy includes correlating laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements with degree of sensitization (DoS) values to determine the sensitization of an alloy. Sensitization is characterized by new phase precipitates preferably along the grain boundaries (GBs). In an embodiment, the method includes the features of (1) selective chemical etching of the new phase precipitate of an alloy to induce quantitative chemical composition change, correlated with the DoS values, on the alloy surface, (2) LIBS measurements to semi-quantitatively probe the chemical composition change on the etched surface due to selective chemical etching, (3) establishing calibration models by correlating the LIBS spectra with the DoS using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms/approaches to determine a sensitization of an alloy.

Methods and systems for determining sensitization of an alloy includes correlating laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements with degree of sensitization (DoS) values to determine the sensitization of an alloy. Sensitization is characterized by new phase precipitates preferably along the grain boundaries (GBs). In an embodiment, the method includes the features of (1) selective chemical etching of the new phase precipitate of an alloy to induce quantitative chemical composition change, correlated with the DoS values, on the alloy surface, (2) LIBS measurements to semi-quantitatively probe the chemical composition change on the etched surface due to selective chemical etching, (3) establishing calibration models by correlating the LIBS spectra with the DoS using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms/approaches to determine a sensitization of an alloy.

A system for cooling an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) instrument includes: the ICP instrument; a pump in fluid communication with the instrument via a first conduit; and a micro-channel heat exchanger in fluid communication with the instrument via a second conduit, and in fluid communication with the pump via a third conduit. The pump is configured to generate a pump outlet pressure of coolant that exceeds a back pressure of the instrument such that a pressure of the coolant traveling through the second conduit and into the heat exchanger is less than or equal to 5 pounds per square inch (psi) above atmospheric pressure, as measured at an inlet to the heat exchanger.

A spectrometry device includes a light source, an integrator configured to have an internal space in which a long afterglow emission material is disposed and output detection light from the internal space, a spectroscopic detector, an analysis unit configured to analyze a photoluminescence quantum yield of the long afterglow emission material, and a control unit configured to control switching between presence and absence of input of excitation light to the internal space and an exposure time in the spectroscopic detector. The control unit controls the light source so that the input of the excitation light to the internal space is maintained in a first period and the input of the excitation light to the internal space is stopped in a second period, and controls the spectroscopic detector so that an exposure time in the second period becomes longer than an exposure time in the first period.

A spectrometry device includes a light source, an integrator configured to have an internal space in which a long afterglow emission material is disposed and output detection light from the internal space, a spectroscopic detector, an analysis unit configured to analyze a photoluminescence quantum yield of the long afterglow emission material, and a control unit configured to control switching between presence and absence of input of excitation light to the internal space and an exposure time in the spectroscopic detector. The control unit controls the light source so that the input of the excitation light to the internal space is maintained in a first period and the input of the excitation light to the internal space is stopped in a second period, and controls the spectroscopic detector so that an exposure time in the second period becomes longer than an exposure time in the first period.