Measurement of the M2-E1 mixing in L x-ray transitions

The L..cap alpha../sub 2/ line of gold has been resolved using a Si (Li) detector combined with a zinc absorber. By analysis of the angular distribution of the 500-keV-proton-induced Ll, L..cap alpha../sub 2/, and L..cap alpha../sub 1,2/ x-ray lines of gold, the mixing ratio for the magnetic quadrupole and electric dipole radiation has been determined. The mixing has been found to be a factor of 4 larger than previously calculated. The intensity of the Ls and Lt lines of platinum also has been measured using this absorption technique. The results gave further evidence that the higher-order multipole terms in L/sub 3/ x-ray transitions of heavy elements were previously underestimated.