We have used Probe for EPMA on our JEOL 8200 electron microprobe since 2005. We really enjoy using Probe for EPMA for both routine and difficult probe samples due to its integrated design, many powerful quantitative features and flexible imaging capabilities. I highly recommend the Probe for EPMA software system.
Edit by John: for those who didn't know, "mac" is Chi Ma at Cal Tech.
Yes, the Probe For EPMA software is very user-friendly and versatile. Our users like it very much. I couldn't find any better one. Even better is that services, including assistance and help with other issues related to an EPMA lab, from John are available almost instantly online or over a phone call. I highly commend John's expertise in EPMA technique and his service and dedication to the EPMA community.
Adelaide Microscopy went with the decision to purchase Probe for EPMA to run their Cameca SXFive microprobe in 2013. It had come highly recommended from many experienced microprobe operators and users worldwide, offering many additional data acquisition and quantification methodologies superior to what the individual vendor software offered. Its full integration with the SXFive provides a hassle free and efficient setup and running of the microprobe. It does many things well, including seemingly obvious and simple features like being able to have offline versions of the software on data processing computers without having to purchase extra licenses.
Like any software it is only as good as the people supporting it, and enough cannot be said about John and his team in this regard. Any issues, tips, tricks, or suggestions for additional features are always responded to very quickly and resolved without delay. The Probe Software forum run by John is a priceless collection of knowledge from both John and experienced microprobe users worldwide, and provides a powerful tool for the microprobe operator or user seeking information. Adelaide Microscopy highly recommends Probe for EPMA to any microprobe operator, novice to expert.
It is a pleasure to use software that has been written with the insight of a probe operator. The features and workflow have been developed to aid the operator, and importantly aid in consistent collection of high quality data. I particularly appreciate that Probe for EPMA produces data in the accessible MS Access MDB format.
Also, it cannot be understated how refreshing it is to use instrument software where the developer is visible, accessible and responsive. John responds rapidly, and importantly, openly to questions from users on the Probe Software forum. I sincerely doubt any instrument manufacturer is either motivated to, or capable of, providing such support.
When was the last time you engaged with the software developers of an instrument manufacturer and had a feature added overnight?
I've been using this software since 1999 when it was called Probe for Windows and Probe Image didn't exist. What struck me was the simplicity and rigorous nature of getting things done. Probe Image is a dream and I turn out great stuff - referred to as "flying micro- airborne geochemical surveys".
As for Probe for EPMA, the inbuilt functionality allows otherwise tricky analytical situations to be easily solved generating much better data rather than having to compromise. Sobolev et al's Co in olivine being a prime example as well as F in apatite.
The Mean Atomic Number background correction has been a major game changer for my analytical protocols too although certain die hard conventional users find it too hard to fathom..........
Keep it coming John.......
Cheers,
Malc.
Edit by John: John Armstrong, Jared Singer and I will soon be submitting a new paper that will provide a theoretical and statistical basis for the MAN correction, particularly for trace elements.
Even though I don't get to use the microprobe much anymore (I keep buying them and turning them over to someone else), it was fun reading through the Donovan et al. abstract for the 2016 MAS conference because it reminded me of the philosophy behind the development and application of Probe software, which is quite simply "Awesome"! If not for John's efforts and those of the community of users, probe operators world wide would still be working with 20th century software. And (in aggravation) tearing out what hair they had left . . .
Keep up the great work!
Dave Wark
We run Probe for EPMA on our new JEOL 8530F at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC. We have a very wide range of users, both in terms of ability, and in the types of samples that need to be run. It is clear that the Probe for EPMA software was written by probe users, as it is versatile enough to cope with any sample you could imagine analyzing, while also being accessible for users with limited experience. The developers are incredibly responsive to any questions or suggestions, fostering a sense of "probe community" that has been both welcoming and an invaluable resource. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has or is thinking of purchasing a probe.
I have been using Probe for EPMA and Probe image on our Jeol 8500F for a number of years now. I find the flexibility of the software is great as we have to solve many different analytical problems on a daily basis. For the collection of mapping data, it has enabled the introduction of quantification and through using the MAN background we have improved efficiency. The community feel of the software and forum is invaluable as a resource as I always know that if I get stuck there is an army of people waiting and interested in helping. Also, the rapid implementation of new features through the dedication and hard work of John keeps the software fresh, I for one am always learning new things it can do 8)
We been using PFE for a number of years, and the things that mark it out are: the easy to recalibrate using a previous setup, robust statistics (error & det lim), good mapping quantification, and TDI (time dependant intensity correction), and of course John's dedication and continual development of the software
I was looking over some old data the other day (collected using the manufacturer's software) before I reacquired some new data on the same mineral species. I was struck by how the tools I use in Probe for EPMA allow me to be a lot more confident in the data I produce. The ease with which I can use these tools (wavescans, different background models, time-dependant intensities, combined conditions, mean atomic number backgrounds, wide choice of matrix corrections etc.) have allowed me to produce datasets that I believe are more accurate. The workflow in PfE also allow me to produce this data in less time! Great software, would never want to go back to way I used to do things!
Glenn Poirier
Acquiring the Probe for EPMA software has been career-wise the best decision our laborataory ever made and I am very grateful for your efforts and feel privileged to have the opportunity to use it! There's still much to learn, yet already the few years exposure to your team and the software taught me so much more about EPMA. I am happy to contribute to your continued success and effort to make Probe for EPMA even better.
Quote from: Radek_MM on May 08, 2025, 01:06:01 AMAcquiring the Probe for EPMA software has been career-wise the best decision our laborataory ever made and I am very grateful for your efforts and feel privileged to have the opportunity to use it! There's still much to learn, yet already the few years exposure to your team and the software taught me so much more about EPMA. I am happy to contribute to your continued success and effort to make Probe for EPMA even better.
Thank you so much for this positive feedback Radek! We do pride ourselves on creating great software, but helping folks learn more about, and improve their EPMA skills, is an added bonus that we also strive for. Great to hear that this is your experience!
Recently we asked some of our long time customers to write a few sentences about how Probe Software has improved their analytical capabilities. One of these customers was Andrew Locock at the University of Alberta. Here is what he wrote to us:
How has Probe for EPMA/Probe Image/CalcImage software helped our EPMA lab's capabilities?
Probe for EPMA and its related software allows us to run both our JEOL JXA8900R and Cameca SX100 electron microprobes in a similar fashion, greatly simplifying the experience for both the clients and the operators. The unique capabilities of this software package have considerably improved our analytical routines for a large range of materials:
• For analysis of beam-sensitive materials (glasses, carbonates, zeolites, etc.), the time-dependent-intensity correction has proven essential to obtaining accurate results.
• The mean-atomic-number (MAN) method for modelling backgrounds has been critical in the investigation of sulfide and sulfosalt minerals, permitting rapid and accurate analysis of up to 20 different mineral species during a single session. The MAN method facilitates analysis of REE minerals by avoiding background interferences.
• Multiple spectral overlap corrections can be specified in the software, considerably improving accuracy, especially for complex multi-element minerals such as REE-bearing species.
• For trace element analysis, the abilities to aggregate signals from multiple crystals (spectrometers) and to model non-linear backgrounds have greatly enhanced the accuracy and precision of our results down to the 10 ppm level for elements such as Al, Ca and Ti.
• The ability to add unanalyzed elements or moieties by stoichiometry prior to the matrix corrections has considerably increased the accuracy of our results for such phases as carbonate-bearing minerals, hydrated phases, and hydroxyl-bearing minerals.
• For analysis of phases with mixed-valence iron, the capability to calculate the proportions of ferrous and ferric iron by charge-balance (stoichiometry) prior to the matrix corrections has improved results for a wide variety of oxide and silicate rock-forming minerals.
• The software allows the user to georeference an image of a thin section or probe mount and then rapidly drive the stage to the desired area, facilitating point selection. It also locates all of the analytical points on this image, and on backscattered-electron and secondary-electron images.
• X-ray mapping is considerably simplified; we routinely map entire thin sections for 5 or even 10 elements at a resolution of 20 microns per pixel, and areas of interest at sub-micron pixel increments. Quantitative mapping is also possible, a unique capability.
Andrew Locock, PhD
EPMA Lab Manager
Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
Tel: 780-492-3191
www.eas.ualberta.ca/eml/
www.microprobe.ca
Another customer testimonial from one of our colleagues who wishes to remain anonymous:
"We examine irradiated nuclear fuels using Probe for EPMA, Probe Image and CalcImage software. These materials are highly complex, comprising literally the entire periodic table.
We will typically analyze 10-20 elements in a given sample, with numerous actinide and lanthanide element overlaps. We also have a need for "virtual" standards for elements such as Am, Tc, and Xe.
This software allows for efficient background determination, overlap correction, and "virtual" element quantification. Because these materials are unusual, features such as user-added MACs, several different MAC databases from which to chose, and the choice of matrix correction algorithm, are especially useful."
Yet another customer testimonial, this one from Radek Michallik:
"Probe for EPMA:
Probe for EPMA is a researcher's ideal tool for exploring diverse analytical methods in EPMA analysis, from customizable acquisition strategies with varied instrument settings for each sample or even spot, to tailored MAC sets for different materials.
Its greatest advantage is the fully automated acquisition of standards and samples, allowing more effective use of our work time during analyses.
The implementation of the MAN background correction has further allowed us to optimize our workflow by avoiding background position issues and reducing the time needed for large batch analyses with many samples and elements. Another valuable feature is the wave scan and element peak overlap dataset, which helps identify potential peak overlaps in synthetic samples containing uncommon element combinations.
Probe Image and CalcImage
These complementary tools simplify the acquisition and quantification of elemental maps by applying a ZAF correction to each pixel. When combined with MAN background correction, this not only saves time but also minimizes beam exposure on sensitive minerals, allowing for precise and accurate high-quality data acquisition.
The quantified maps retain essential textural context, crucial for geological interpretation and further data processing with third-party software. We heavily rely on Probe Image and CalcImage for a variety of research projects at our EPMA lab."
Dr. Radoslaw Michallik
Geological Survey of Finland GTK
Another customer/colleague testimonial:
"Adelaide Microscopy has been utilising Probe for EPMA since the installation of our Cameca SXFive in 2013. Its easy and user friendly implementation of many advanced analytical features, of which our instrument manufacturers software does not contain, made it an attractive purchase and now impossible to go back.
The list of features in Probe for EPMA is extensive ranging from simple to complex applications, however even the more simple routine features such as the Mean Atomic Number (MAN) correction for major element analyses is invaluable, cutting analytical times almost in half for many analyses. The Time Dependant Intensity (TDI) corrections for volatile elements in minerals such as apatite, glasses, and hydrated minerals is extremely important and cannot be done without now.
In addition, it cannot be understated how valuable support is from Probe Software. In these times of fast paced research, analytical ideas and techniques can evolve rapidly. In many situations this can require fast feedback from instrument or software developers, and is typically not the type of response one gets from large companies and manufacturers, where inquiries and suggestions for software changes can go unheard or can take many months to implement.
Over the years there has not been a single time where Probe Software have not responded to inquiries rapidly, and in many cases fixed bugs and developed and implemented software features at the recommendation of its users. The involvement of the Probe for EPMA developers in the scientific community and their willingness to implement features in Probe for EPMA when appropriate is just as important as the software itself, and is another reason why Adelaide Microscopy would highly endorse its use to any probe laboratory."
Benjamin Wade
University of Adelaide
A couple of weeks ago we send out an email to some potential customers (you know who you are!). This email contained some additional testimonials from four of our current customers. Here's what we sent:
Hear from your colleagues how Probe Software improves EPMA analyses
"Probe for EPMA is a super powerful and highly customizable software that allows users to analyze their samples applying customized beam conditions, element and sample setups, background methods (off-peak, MPB, MAN), along with various analysis options (such as TDI) and correction methods (such as ZAF or Phi-Rho-Z matrix corrections, peak interference corrections, secondary fluorescence corrections).
The software is so customizable that users can design and optimize their analytical protocols for best data acquisition (light elements, trace elements, REE + U-Th-Pb elements with complex background and peak interferences, etc.). Even after using the software for 3 years, there are still many hidden functions and capabilities that I haven't explored.
The Probe Image software, combined with MAN background method using the PfE software, allows users to quantitatively map the area of interest. This function is a game changer and now attracts attention from more researchers worldwide."
Peng Jiang
University of Hawaii
"Since adopting Probe Software in 2018, we haven't used the OEM software. Thanks to features in Probe Software such as TDI, MAN, blank correction, multi-point background, and quantitative X-ray mapping, we can perform analyses that simply aren't possible with the EPMA vendors' software. Even analyses we once only imagined become feasible through software updates upon request.
We're not doing the same analyses as everyone else—we're doing analyses that not just anyone can do. As a result, we have been able to perform nearly nondestructive quantitative analyses of trace elements (< ~tens of ppm) in ultrafine regions (~1 micrometer) in the fields of cosmochemistry and geology."
Changkun Park
Korea Polar Research Institute
"Probe for EPMA has been a great assistance to our analytical capabilities permitting analyses at multiple conditions, providing multiple matrix correction routines, robust errors and detection limits, and easy export.
Together with ease of loading previous setups for calibration and analysis. Its advanced features such as mean atomic number (MAN) background correction have proven to be particularly useful for X-ray mapping, and its ability to alternate peak and background measurements have proved essential for analysis of trace elements in quartz.
CalcImage provides robust mapping quantification, which makes a great combination together with the capabilities of the JEOL mapping acquisition software."
Ben Buse
University of Bristol
"We have been a customer of Probe for EPMA for the past decades by now. It has proven to be such a reliable and powerful software package. It has opened up numerous possibilities for us, from various matrix correction options, element and group specification, easy valence-state adjustments, to multi-point background measurements, aggregated intensities for ultra-low detection limits, time-dependent corrections (TDI), and much more.
Its versatility across all the platforms via a simple network connection has been invaluable. Since our instrument upgraded from a Cameca SX50 to a JEOL 8230 in 2015, and through successive operating system upgrades from Windows XP to Windows 11, Probe for EPMA has allowed us to seamlessly access, compare, and process legacy data without any interruption.
The ability to process data conveniently on any off-line computer without affecting ongoing analyses, has also been a major advantage. Quite honestly, I cannot imagine working without it, and that is no exaggeration."
Yanan Liu
University of Toronto
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https://www.probesoftware.com/