-5- - Atomic Electron Radiation

Abstract

The chapter discusses various aspects of atomic electron radiation. Atomic electrons may be emitted from atoms as a result of a nuclear decay process referred to as internal conversion (IC). IC electrons may be emitted from specific electron shells of atoms and may be expressed in terms of IC electrons and gamma-rays of the same energy less the energy difference resulting from the binding energy of the electron. Another source of atomic electron radiation is the emission of Auger electrons. Auger electrons are emitted by radioactive atoms that have electron-shell vacancies and can undergo electron-energy-level transitions. An Auger electron can be considered the atomic analogue of an IC electron. The energy of an Auger electron is low as it is equivalent to the energy of the X-ray photon that would result in the transition of an electron from an outer to inner shell less the binding energy of the electron that is emitted as an Auger electron.