Measurements of K-shell x-ray production cross sections and K to L and M-shell radiative vacancy transfer probabilities for Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy and Ho at excitation with 59.5 keV photons in an external magnetic field

The effect of the +/- 0.75 T external magnetic field on the K-alpha 1, K-alpha 2, K-beta'1 and K-beta'2 x-ray production cross sections and radiative vacancy transfer probabilities from K-shell to L-2 and L-3 subshells and M-shell for ferromagnetic Nd, Gd and Dy and paramagnetic Eu and Ho have been investigated, using the 59.5 keV incident photons. K-shell fluorescence yields and K x-ray intensity ratios for these elements have been determined in the external magnetic field also. The K x-rays from different targets were detected using a high-resolution Si(Li) semiconductor detector. For B = 0, the present experimental results were compared with the experimental and theoretical data in the literature. The results show that K-shell fluorescence parameters such as photoionization cross section, fluorescence yield, radiation rates, vacancy transfer probabilities and spectral linewidth can change owing to the applied magnetic field. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.