Comparison of two Monte Carlo approaches for homogeneous bulk samples

This manuscript presents a comparative analysis of two software packages, MC X-ray and PENELOPE, focusing on their accuracy and efficiency in simulating k-ratios for binary compounds and comparing their spectra with experimental data for pure elements and compounds. Based on the Pouchou database, MC X-ray slightly outperforms PENELOPE in k-ratio calculations, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.71% with a standard deviation of 0.027, compared to 2.87% with a standard deviation of 0.053. Discrepancies between the two programs emerge at lower beam energies (3 and 5 keV) when comparing simulated spectra with experimental data; however, at higher energies (20 and 30 keV), both software packages exhibit consistent and reliable performance across a range of atomic numbers. While both tools are effective for analysing homogeneous bulk samples, MC X-ray offers significant advantages in processing speed and user-friendliness. This study underscores the strengths and limitations of each package, providing valuable insights for researchers engaged in X-ray simulation and microanalysis.