Measurement of angular distribution of M shell fluorescent X-rays excited by 5·95 keV photons in thorium

Abstract

The differential cross-sections for the emission of M shell fluorescent X-rays from Th by 5·95 keV photons at eight angles ranging from 50° to 120° have been measured. The differential cross-section is found to decrease with increase in the emission angle showing anisotropic spatial distribution of M shell fluorescent X-rays. The present results contradict the predictions of the calculations of Cooper and Zare [1] that the atomic inner shell vacancy states produced in photoionization are not aligned but confirm those of Fluggeet al [2] and Scofield [3] that the vacancy states withJ > 1/2 are aligned. The integral M shell fluorescent emission cross sections have been determined from the measured angular distribution coefficients and compared with theoretical integral cross-sections calculated by using theoretical values of M subshell photoionization cross-sections, fluorescence yields and coster kronig transition probabilities available in literature. The experimental and theoretical values of integral crosssections show a reasonable agreement.