Non-linearity of prompt nuclear satellites relative intensities observed from high energy protons induced X-ray emission

Abstract A study of the relative intensity of K-shell X-ray nuclear satellites as a function of atomic number, Z is presented. These satellites, which are generated during bombardment with high energetic protons of 66 MeV from targets composed of pure fluoride compounds for the rare earths and heavier metals including the platinum (Pt, Au) and fissionable metals (Th, U) are of particular interest in the quantitative elemental analysis of rare earth and heavy metals by energetic protons. This paper will describe aspects that may account for the production cross section of nuclear satellites for atomic numbers 57 ⩽  Z  ⩽ 92. Previous results that showed a linear relationship between relative intensities and atomic number will be discussed.