Characterization of a Si(Li) Detector for PIXE Analysis.

The characterization of a Si(Li) detector used for PIXE analysis is presented. The main detector parameters are indicated, and the different methods of determining them are examined. Also, the detection efficiency has been measured in the 1.4-100 keV photon energy range, using calibrated radioactive sources and PIXE, to obtain and compare the fitted parameters. Finally, the fit of an analytic function to the measured efficiency values and the efficiency in parametric form are compared, and the advantages observed for each are noted.