Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2021) 136: 411
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01334-x

Review

How a small accelerator can be useful for interdisciplinary applications part II: cultural heritage studies

INFN Sezione di Firenze, via Bruno Rossi 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Fi), Italy

^a fedi@fi.infn.it

Received: 31 January 2021
Accepted: 22 March 2021
Published online: 19 April 2021

Abstract

Supporting the knowledge of artworks, past times and civilizations by physics and, in general, sciences have been by now recognised to be a very valuable possibility, even though scientific measurements cannot definetely replace the historical and archaeological studies. In this framework, small particle accelerators, i.e., low voltage electrostatic systems, can play an important role for both material analysis and dating purposes. The present paper will present a review of the main principles of ion beam analysis, and in particular PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission), for the study of the composition of artworks and of accelerator mass spectrometry for the measurement of ¹⁴C and dating. Advantages, limitations and outlooks are discussed.