A new approach to pile-up modelling in PIXE

In the conventional approach to pile-up modelling when fitting x-ray spectra, a pile-up 'element' is introduced, whose peak energies are defined as the sums of energies of primary peaks in the spectrum. We introduce a new approach that includes peak + peak, peak + continuum and continuum + continuum pile-up. Tests show that, in addition to replicating the results of the conventional approach for peak pile-up, it accounts accurately for broad continuum pile-up features in the spectrum. The new approach also allows the user to include pile-up peaks that arise from summing of peaks within the region of fit with peaks that lie below the lower energy limit of the region of fit. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.