X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer comprising:

• an X-ray source configured to irradiate a sample with primary X-rays;
• a detection unit configured to measure an intensity of fluorescent X-rays generated from each of elements in the sample, and intensities of scattered X-rays of the primary X-rays;
• and
• a calculation unit configured to:
• calculate a theoretical intensity of the fluorescent X-rays generated from said each element in the sample on the basis of assumed contents of the elements;
• and recalculate the assumed contents of the elements through successive approximation such that the theoretical intensity matches a converted measured intensity obtained by converting a measured intensity obtained by the detection unit into a theoretical intensity scale, to calculate a content of each element in the sample, wherein
• the calculation unit is configured to:
• in order to take into consideration an influence of unmeasured elements for which the fluorescent X-rays are not measured, use shorter-wavelength scattered X-rays of the primary X-rays having a wavelength of 0.05 nm or more and 0.075 nm or less, and longer-wavelength scattered X-rays of the primary X-rays having a wavelength of 0.11 nm or more and 0.23 nm or less, as the scattered X-rays whose intensities are measured by the detection unit, assume a mean atomic number for elements other than hydrogen included in the unmeasured elements, and assume a content for hydrogen;
• solve simultaneous difference equations formulated for each type of the fluorescent X-rays and each type of the scattered X-rays whose intensities have been measured by the detection unit, to determine a correction value for updating the assumed content of each element, and a correction value for updating the assumed mean atomic number, thereby recalculating the assumed contents of the elements and the assumed mean atomic number through successive approximation such that the theoretical intensity and the converted measured intensity match for each type of the fluorescent X-rays and each type of the scattered X-rays, to calculate the content of each element in the sample;
• and
• in performing said calculation, as the theoretical intensity and the measured intensity of the scattered X-rays,
• use a theoretical intensity and a measured intensity of Compton scattered X-rays of characteristic X-rays of the primary X-rays, a theoretical intensity ratio and a measured intensity ratio between the Compton scattered X-rays and Thomson scattered X-rays of the characteristic X-rays of the primary X-rays, or a theoretical intensity and a measured intensity of scattered X-rays of continuous X-rays of the primary X-rays, for the shorter-wavelength scattered X-rays of the primary X-rays, and
• use a theoretical intensity and a measured intensity of the Thomson scattered X-rays of the characteristic X-rays of the primary X-rays, a total theoretical intensity and a total measured intensity of the Compton scattered X-rays and the Thomson scattered X-rays of the characteristic X-rays of the primary X-rays, or the theoretical intensity and the measured intensity of the scattered X-rays of the continuous X-rays of the primary X-rays, for the longer-wavelength scattered X-rays of the primary X-rays.