Chapter 12 - Atomic Electron Radiation

Abstract

The chapter discusses various aspects of atomic electron radiation, including internal conversion (IC) electrons and Auger electrons. The emission of IC electrons of an atom in conjunction with the IC decay of an atomic nucleus is described and examples are provided. The IC coefficient, as a measurement of the relative differences in the rates of emission of IC electrons versus gamma-ray emission, is reviewed. Another type of electron radiation emitted from a decaying atom described in this chapter is the emission of Auger electrons. Examples are provided of atomic nuclei that decay by electron capture resulting in the emission of x-radiation from atomic electron orbital transitions or the emission of Auger electrons in lieu of X-ray emission. The fluorescence yield and Auger yield are discussed as a measure of the competing processes of Auger electron emission and X-ray emission. The Koster–Kronig transition as a special type of Auger effect is described. Typical energy spectra from Auger electron and IC electron emissions are discussed. The chapter concludes with a review of the applications of radionuclides that emit abundant Auger electron and IC electrons in cancer therapy (ie, brachytherapy). Auger electron spectroscopy in the identification and analysis of atoms of the elements is described.