Abstract

The sulfur K x-ray emission was studied in pure sulfur, anhydrite (CaSO4) and sphalerite (ZnS) samples. The ionizations were induced by electron impact and the spectra were recorded with a wavelength dispersive spectrometer. The spectral processing was performed through a methodology based on the optimization of atomic and experimental parameters. Energies and intensities of diagram and satellite lines were determined for a set of transitions in the K alpha and K beta groups. The lines studied include K alpha(22), K alpha(2), K alpha(1), K alpha', K alpha(3), K alpha(4), K alpha(5), K alpha(6), K beta(1,3), K beta-RAE, K beta(III), K beta(IV), K beta(x), K beta' and K beta ''. The main spectral differences between the three oxidation states were analysed, considering the influence of the ligand atoms. The results were compared with data published by other authors and the origin of certain lines was discussed on the basis of data available in the literature.