Cascade M_i (i = 1–5) subshell X‐ray emission at incident photon energies across the L_j (j = 1–3) subshell absorption edges of ₆₆Dy

Abstract

The total M shell and the Mk (k = ξ, αβ, γ, m) X‐ray production cross sections for 66Dy have been measured at incident photon energies across its Lj (j = 1–3) subshell absorption edge energies, ranging 7.8–9.2 keV. This study aims to investigate the evolution of the probability for cascade decay of Lj subshell vacancies as the tunable incident energy ionizes progressively different 66Dy Lj subshells. The experimental X‐ray production cross sections have been compared with theoretical ones calculated using the nonrelativistic Hartree–Fock–Slater (HFS) model‐based photoionization cross sections; three sets of the X‐ray emission rates, fluorescence and Coster–Kronig yield based on the nonrelativistic Hartree–Slater (NRHS) model, Dirac–Hartree–Slater (DHS) model and Dirac–Fock (DF) model; the Lj (j = 1–3) subshell to the Mi (i = 1–5) subshell vacancy transfer probabilities evaluated in the present work. Presently measured total M shell and the Mαβ X‐ray production cross sections are found to be significantly lower than the theoretical ones evaluated using physical parameters based on the relativistic Dirac–Fock/Dirac–Hartree–Slater model calculations, whereas a much better agreement is observed with respect to the NRHS model‐based calculations; however, the measured X‐ray production cross sections are still systematically lower than the NRHS values.