  High-energy bremsstrahlung and K X-rays were used to produce nearly
background-free K X-ray spectra of up to 87 keV (Pb) via X-ray fluorescence.
The fluorescing radiation was produced by electron accelerators, consisting of
heated and cooled cylindrical LiTaO3 and LiNbO3 crystals at mTorr pressures.
The newly discovered process of gas amplification whereby the ambient gas
pressure is optimized to maximize the electron energy was used to produce
energetic electrons which when incident on a W/Bi target gave rise to a
radiation field consisting of high-energy bremsstrahlung as well as W and Bi K
X-rays. These photons were used to fluoresce Ta and Pb K X-rays.
