Influence of changes in the valence electronic configuration on theKβ-to-Kαx-ray intensity ratios of the3dtransition metals

Very extensive multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations including the transverse (Breit) interaction and quantum electrodynamics corrections have been carried out for all $3d$ transition metals to explain reliably the dependence of $K\beta$-to-$K\alpha$ x-ray intensity ratios on the changes in configurations of the valence electrons. For all considered atoms the greatest values of the $K\beta$-to-$K\alpha$ intensity ratios are for ${3d}^{m-2}{4s}^2$ configuration type, then for ${3d}^{m-1}{4s}^1,$ and the smallest values are for ${3d}^m$ type. It has been found that for each type of electronic configuration the $K\beta$-to-$K\alpha$ intensity ratios increase evidently with the atomic number and for a particular atom they are quite sensitive to the changes of the valence electronic configuration. The greatest relative increase of the $K\beta$-to-$K\alpha$ intensity ratios (4%) as a result of transition from electronic configuration of the ${3d}^{m-1}{4s}^1$ type to the ${3d}^{m-2}{4s}^2$ type takes place for Sc and the smallest relative increase (2%) takes place for Cu. The presented results make it possible to carry out reliable interpretation of various experimental $K\beta$-to-$K\alpha$ x-ray intensity ratios for $3d$ transition metals in their compounds and alloys and can also provide quantitative information about the changes of the valence electronic configurations of these metals in considered systems.