The Relative Intensities of CertainL-Series X-Ray Satellites in Cathode-Ray and in Fluorescence Excitation

Using a specially designed x-ray tube, the authors have measured the relative intensity of satellites and their parent $L{\alpha }_1$ line, for both cathode-ray and fluorescence excitation for the elements Zr(40), Mo(42), Ru(44), Rh(45), Pd(46) and Ag(47). Cathode-ray excitation was by 20 kv electrons. Fluorescence excitation was caused by the radiation from a target of Ag(47) bombarded by 20 kv electrons. A photographic method is used; in which spectrograms, Moll microphotometric records and density plots are made, from which it is possible to obtain the relative intensity of the satellites and their parent $L{\alpha }_1$ line. The results for fluorescence excitation suggest that $\mathrm{LM}$ ionization is the most probable origin of the $L\alpha$ satellites. On the other hand, the rapid variation in relative intensity of the satellites with atomic number for cathode-ray excitation, seems to indicate that the peripheral electron structure of the atom plays a fundamental rôle in the production of satellites. The magnitude of the integrated intensity of the group of satellites accompanying $L\alpha$ varies from 10 percent to 70 percent of the intensity of the parent line, depending on the element and the method of excitation.