Determination of the K absorption edge energy of Ho in element and its compounds using the bremsstrahlung technique

Abstract

The K shell binding energies of Ho in element and in compounds Ho2O3 and HoF3 have been measured for the first time by adopting a novel method. The method involves a weak beta source, an external bremsstrahlung (EB) converter, element and compound targets and a high-resolution HPGe detector coupled to a 16K multichannel analyser. A spectrum of continuous EB photons, produced by the interaction of beta particles from a 90Sr–90Y radioactive source with an iron foil, is allowed to pass through the element and compound targets of Ho. The spectrum of transmitted EB photons is measured with a high-resolution HPGe detector spectrometer. The transmitted spectrum shows a sudden drop in intensity at K shell binding energy of the target. Such a sudden drop, which is essentially due to the onset of the K shell photoelectric effect, has been used to determine the K shell binding energy of Ho in element. The K shell binding energies of Ho in Ho2O3 and HoF3 compounds have also been determined using the same technique. From these data, the chemical shift in the K shell binding energy has been measured. It is found to be positive for Ho2O3 and negative for HoF3, indicating the dependence of the chemical shift on the crystal structure.