"Strip background" by using Clayton's algorithm

[ZhaiQ]

Hi all,

I am new to DTSA software and I am trying to use it to analyze our EDS spectra. The X-ray peak we are looking for has different shape from normal characteristic peaks. It is not Gaussian (even after the convolved with the detector). In this case, the background subtraction is very important for us to eliminate the bremsstrahlung and then compare the experimental data with theoretical results.

When I read the DTSA document, I found the "Strip background" algorithm comes from "A DISCUSSION OF PIXAN AND PIXANPC: THE AAEC PIXE ANALYSIS COMPUTER PACKAGES" by Clayton. And after reading the original paper I noticed the number of iterates N will affect the final results.

My questions is how does DTSA determine the number of iterates N? Is it a fixed number? Thank you very much!

[Nicholas Ritchie]

This is how I implemented Clayton's algorithm

Code Select Expand

static public class Clayton1987PeakStripping extends PeakStripping {
      public Clayton1987PeakStripping() {
         super("Clayton - 1987", "Clayton E, Duerden P, Cohen DD. Nuclear Instrum Methods B22:91, 1987");
      }

      private final int MAX_ITERATIONS = 1000;

      @Override
      protected void initializeDefaultStrategy() {
      }

      @Override
      public ISpectrumData computeBackground(ISpectrumData src) {
         final double[] ch = SpectrumUtils.toDoubleArray(src);
         double delta = 0.0, delta0 = -Double.MAX_VALUE;
         for (int iter = 0; (iter < MAX_ITERATIONS) && (delta > (1.0e-6 * delta0)); ++iter) {
            delta = 0.0;
            for (int i = ch.length - 2; i >= 1; --i) {
               final double m = 0.5 * (ch[i + 1] + ch[i - 1]);
               if (ch[i] > m) {
                  delta += ch[i] - m;
                  ch[i] = m;
               }
            }
            if (delta0 == -Double.MAX_VALUE)
               delta0 = delta;
         }
         return new DerivedSpectrum.BasicDerivedSpectrum(src, ch, "Clayton[" + src.toString() + "]");
      }
   }


So it uses a dynamic test to determine the number of iterations.

On the other hand, the mechanism that DTSA-II uses to fit spectra does not depend on the peak being a Gaussian shape so it might work just fine on your spectra.

[ZhaiQ]

Hi Prof Ritchie,

Thanks for your answer about the algorithm. Meanwhile, may I consult what is the formula DTSA uses to "fit spectra"? Is it polynomial equation? Thanks!