The Performance of MC X-ray and PENELOPE in Homogeneous Bulk Samples

TL;DR

This study compares MC X-ray and PENELOPE software for simulating X-ray spectra and k-ratios in homogeneous samples, highlighting their accuracy, efficiency, and suitability for different energy ranges.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of MC X-ray and PENELOPE, revealing their relative performance, strengths, and limitations in X-ray simulation for microanalysis.

Findings

MC X-ray slightly outperforms PENELOPE in k-ratio accuracy

Both programs perform reliably at higher energies (20-30 keV)

Discrepancies occur at lower energies (3-5 keV) between simulated and experimental spectra

Abstract

This manuscript presents a comparative analysis of two software packages, MC X-ray and PENELOPE, focusing on their accuracy and efficiency in simulating k-ratios for binary compounds and comparing their spectra with experimental data for pure elements and compounds. Based on the Pouchou database, MC X-ray slightly outperforms PENELOPE in k-ratio calculations, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.71\% compared to 2.87\%. Discrepancies between the two programs emerge at lower beam energies (3 keV and 5 keV) when comparing simulated spectra with experimental data; however, at higher energies (20 keV and 30 keV), both software packages exhibit consistent and reliable performance across a range of atomic numbers. While both tools are effective for analyzing homogeneous bulk samples, MC X-ray offers significant advantages in processing speed and user-friendliness. This study underscores the strengths and limitations of each package, providing valuable insights for researchers engaged in X-ray simulation and microanalysis.