Amazon.com description: Product Description: This book is written for professional, academic and government analytical chemists. It is a one-stop-shop providing an overview and reference source on this subject, which has been growing steadily with outstanding technical developments in recent years. Non-destructive methods are generally nuclear techniques and do not require the use of a solution. XRF is included because although it deals with electrons rather than the nucleus, the exciting source (X-ray tube or accelerated electron beam) is the one used in nuclear experiments. Non-destructive assays are expanding in the fields of materials, archaeology, biology and the arts. A team of expert authors describes all the major non-destructive methods available to the analyst clearly and concisely. In each case practical examples are used along with detailed coverage of equipment, methodology and underlying theory. In this way readers can gain an appreciation of how day-to-day work is connected to the basic principles.