Excitation Potential, Relative Intensities and Wave-Lengths of theKα′′X-Ray Satellite Line

Abstract

With a two-crystal vacuum spectrometer, ionization curves of the $K{\alpha }^{\prime \prime }$ satellite line have been recorded for elements S(16) to V(23). This satellite line, on the short wave-length side of and very close to the $K{\alpha }_1$ line, was observed in 1922 by Dolejšek and has been until now a forgotten line. The excitation potential of this satellite has been determined: The initial atomic state for its emission appears to be one of $\mathrm{KM}$ ionization. The $K{\alpha }^{\prime \prime }$ intensity relative to the $K{\alpha }_1$ intensity varies with atomic number, reaching a maximum of 2.3 percent at Ca(20). The $K{\alpha }^{\prime \prime }$ wave-length positions have also been determined for each element. The observed data are compatible with both the Wentzel-Druyvesteyn and the Richtmyer theories for the origin of this satellite line.