P/B
Peak to Background Ratio. Strictly the total counts at the peak position (which will also include the continuum contribution in addition to the characteristic x-ray counts). A measure of the sensitivity of the analysis. To improve your detection limit, you will want to increase the peak to background ratio. This can be accomplished by using the analyzing crystal with the highest theta available (for example run K Kα on LiF rather than PET) by using the highest accelerating voltage reasonably feasible, and using lower noise flow detectors rather than sealed detectors. The P/B is calculated as :
where :
is the
background corrected peak intensity
is the
background continuum intensity