Publisher's Synopsis
In 1972 the Denver X-Ray Conference theme emphasized x-ray analysis in environmental~ biomedical~ and forensic applications. The first group of invited papers served to point out relationships between x-ray fluorescence, neutron activation~ and emission or ab sorption spectroscopy in these microanalytical applications. It was noticeable that detectabilities are now frequently expressed in nanograms or parts per billion rather than in micrograms or parts per million as a few years ago. Specific examples of x-ray appli cation to trace elements in water and air~ biomedical problems in mineralization of bone~ and forensic analysis of automobile paint chips followed in a second invited session. A number of contributed papers carried on the theme of applying x-ray analysis to social type problems. As might be expected~ x-ray fluorescence which has become so useful in the geological and metallurgical fields is al ready making its contribution to the social and ecological problem areas. Of course emphasis of a theme was not intended to discourage general diffraction or fluorescence papers~ nor did it. Elabora tion of energy dispersion instruments continues with computers to help display and interpret data. X-ray diffraction has begun ap plying strong flash x-ray sources to study dynamic situations such as shock Wave compression in solids. Electron spectroscopy, lattice parameter measurements, improved x-ray tubes and spectrometers all helped round out the useful three-day exchange on state-of-the-art x-ray analysis.
