Macro X-ray fluorescence scanning system for the National Gallery

The National Gallery is seeking to procure a macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) scanning system for in-situ, non-invasive analysis and imaging of Old Master paintings, to advance their interdisciplinary scientific and art historical research. The equipment will include a scanning/positioning system, a high efficiency X-ray source producing submillimetre spot sizes and a high sensitivity X-ray detector capable together of generating elemental maps with a spatial (lateral) resolution in the c.100-500 micron range using dwell times in the millisecond range, based on the acquisition of high quality spectral data. The elemental range of interest is Na to U. The equipment will produce scans at different spatial (lateral) resolutions and allow fast measurement (at a submillimetre resolution) of paintings up to several square metres in size e.g. within a working day or overnight.