A Study of the Shape of theAgL,MoKandCuKLines

Abstract

The $L{\alpha }_1{\alpha }_2$ lines of silver at 4.15A were resolved by the double x-ray spectrometer, which was enclosed in hydrogen to reduce air absorption. The width of $L{\alpha }_1$ at half maximum was 4.5 X.U. The separation of ${\alpha }_2-{\alpha }_1$ agreed within experimental error with the value of 8.18 X.U. given in the tables. The $\mathrm{Mo}K$ lines were studied at first, second and fourth orders. The widths of ${\alpha }_1$ and ${\alpha }_2$ were the same, 0.281 X.U. The $\mathrm{Mo}K{\beta }_{12}$ separation was 0.567 X.U. No trace of fine structure was found. The $\mathrm{Cu}K$ lines showed the following effects at both first and second orders. The $\mathrm{Cu}K{\beta }_{12}$ doublet, width 0.97 X.U. showed three partially resolved components, assumed to be ${\beta }_1$, ${\beta }_2$ and ${\beta }^{\prime }$ in order of increasing wave-length. The last was about 3.5 percent of the total intensity and its distance from ${\beta }_1$ was 1.34 X.U. The ${\beta }_2-{\beta }_1$ separation was estimated at 0.38 X.U. There is an excess of energy on the short wave-length side of ${\beta }_1$ indicating possibly a fourth component. The width of $\mathrm{Cu}K{\alpha }_1$ was 0.61 X.U. No change in width was found between 15 kv. and 40 kv. Both ${\alpha }_1$ and ${\alpha }_2$ were steeper on the short wave-length side. This agrees with the observations of Valasek and others. The height of ${\alpha }_1$ was more than twice that of ${\alpha }_2$, but ${\alpha }_1$ was enough narrower so that the ratio of areas was about two. No indication of fine structure was found. All x-ray lines were studied by means of the universal type of two crystal spectrometer described in an accompanying paper. The $\mathrm{Mo}K$ and $\mathrm{Cu}K$ lines were checked on a spectrometer of the type used by Davis and Purks. The three sets of crystals used in the above investigation were examined in the parallel position. One set showed a doublet structure.