X-ray spectra induced by 129 Xe q + impacting the metal surface

Using the slow highly charged ions 129Xe q+ (q = 25, 26, 27; initial kinetic T 0⩽4.65 keV/a.u.) to impact Au surface, the Au atomic Mα characteristic X-ray spectrum is induced. The result shows that as long as the charge state of projectile is high enough, the heavy atomic characteristic X-ray can be effectively excited even though the incident beam is very weak (nA magnitude), and the X-ray yield per ion is in the order of 10−8 and increases with the kinetic energy and potential energy of projectile. By measuring the Au Mα-X-ray spectra, Au atomic N-level lifetime is estimated at about 1.33×10−18 s based on Heisenberg uncertainty relation.