07. Filtering Example

This example uses the Normalizer Filter.

When detector deadtime is very high, the detector cannot keep up with the incoming x-rays. For example, low energy x-rays such as those coming from Ar may not get counted and mapping the distribution of Ar will reveal areas of next to no intensity.

The Normalizer Filer scales each spectrum so that the intensity at a given channel is always the same. This filter can be used in this case to correct the spectra. By normalizing against a channel from within the Ar peak, we can mitigate the distortion caused by detector saturation.

Go to the Filters tab and add the Normalizer Filter found under the Advanced filter types. Click on the Settings button to bring up the settings pane for the filter. Place the cursor on the Ar peak in the spectrum and read the channel number and value (counts) from the information found below the spectrum window, and enter them into the appropriate settings fields. Make sure you are viewing the Mean Average spectrum to get the average value (counts) for the Ar. Close the edit window.

Uncorrected `Ar` with weak signal where `Ti` is strongest

Uncorrected `Ti`

Corrected `Ar`

Corrected `Ti` with greater maximum intensity