LibCPIXE: a PIXE simulation open-source library for multilayered samples

TL;DR

LibCPIXE is an open-source, modular C library designed for fast, portable PIXE data analysis of multilayered samples, demonstrated through real sample analysis on multiple platforms.

Contribution

This work introduces LibCPIXE, a novel open-source C library that efficiently simulates PIXE spectra for multilayered samples, filling a gap in existing analysis tools.

Findings

LibCPIXE successfully analyzes multilayered samples.

The library is compatible with GNU/Linux and Windows.

It is open-source and easily integrable into existing software.

Abstract

Most particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) data analysis codes are not focused on handling multilayered samples. We have developed an open-source library called "LibCPIXE", for PIXE data analysis. It is written in standard C and implements functions for simulating X-ray yields of PIXE spectra taken from arbitrary samples, including multilayered targets. The library is designed to be fast, portable, modular and scalable, as well as to facilitate its incorporation into any existing program. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the library, a program called CPIXE was developed and used to analyze various real samples involving both bulk and layered samples. Just as the library, the CPIXE source code is freely available under the General Public License. We demonstrate that it runs both under GNU/Linux systems as well as under MS Windows. There is in principle no limitation to port it to other platforms.