Ion induced L X-ray spectra of 3d transition elements

Abstract The L X-ray emission spectra from Cr, Mn, Fe and Co of the first-series transition metals excited by 1.8 MeV H + , 1.8 MeV He + , 1.1 MeV N + and 0.85 MeV Ne + ions have been studied using a high resolution Bragg crystal spectrometer. We found the following prominent effects induced by the heavy ion impacts. 1) Broad satellite bands are observed, arising from the multiple vacancy production in the M and N shells during heavy ion-atom collisions. This can be supported by the theoretical estimation using the Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations. 2) The peak shifts to the lower energy in the Lα 1,2 lines are also observed. This could be explained by the suggestion that the originally empty levels in the M and N shells of the target atoms may be occupied by electrons promoted from the inner shells of the projectiles through the quasimolecular orbitals or the purturbed Lα 1,2 X rays by the interatomic transition because of the complicated band structure of the 3d transition metals. The calculated values in the energy shift are a few electron volts and in agreement with the observed ones.