Experimental determination of -subshell x-ray production cross sections for La, Ce, Pr, and Nd by electron impact
Phys. Rev. A 113, 032816 – Published 23 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/b4b5-cp4j
Abstract
-subshell x-ray production cross sections induced by electron impact were determined for La, Ce, Pr, and Nd in the incidence energy range of 5.7–25 keV. The experiments were carried out by irradiating thick samples in a field-emission scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer. The x-ray spectra were then analyzed using a previously developed optimization software, which accounts for bulk effects through a model for the ionization depth distribution function. The x-ray production cross sections obtained were compared with theoretical predictions, using different relaxation data reported in the literature. A good agreement is obtained for the and subshells when the distorted-wave Born approximation model is used along with the relaxation parameters reported by Perkins et al. [Technical Report UCRL-50400, Vol. 30, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 1991]. However, for the subshell, the theoretical curves systematically underestimate the measurements in the high-energy region, evincing the need for further determinations of the fluorescence yield coefficient for this subshell.
