Characterization of cultural heritage materials using non destructive ion beam analysis

Abstract

The main objective of this work is the implementation and optimization of the non-destructive nuclear technique Particle-induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE) using an external beam at Laboratório de Materiais e Feixes Iônicos do Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo (LAMFI) to specifically study cultural heritage objects. In particular, the pigment constituents of 19 Italian paintings belonging to the Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo (MAC-USP) will be characterized and studied. For the complete characterization of these paintings, complementary techniques such as Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) will be used with the purpose of forming an online database that will serve to researchers, museologists, merchants and forensic scientists to identify and characterize these material.In parallel, it will be developed a xyz mechanical positioning table for artistic and cultural objects, in order to analyze elementary maps using the PIGE, PIXE and ED-XRF techniques, in colaboration with the Grupo de Física Aplicada com Aceleradores (GFAA).