Apparatus and methods in which one or more elemental taggants that are
intrinsically located in an object are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis
under vacuum conditions to identify or verify the object's elemental content for
elements with lower atomic numbers. By using x-ray fluorescence analysis, the apparatus
and methods of the invention are simple and easy to use, as well as provide detection
by a non line-of-sight method to establish the origin of objects, as well as their
point of manufacture, authenticity, verification, security, and the presence of
impurities. The invention is extremely advantageous because it provides the capability
to measure lower atomic number elements in the field with a portable instrument.
