Measurement of the K shell X-ray production cross-sections and fluorescence yields for Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy and Ho using radioisotope X-ray fluorescence in the external magnetic field

Abstract

The effect of external magnetic field on the Kα and Kβ X-ray production cross-sections and K shell fluorescence yields for ferromagnetic elements Nd, Gd and Dy and paramagnetic elements Eu and Ho have been measured at the excitation energy of 59.5 keV γ -rays from 241Am radioactive source of strength 100 mCi in the external magnetic field of intensities ±0.75 T. Furthermore, IKβ /IKα intensity ratios for these elements have been measured in the external magnetic field. The K X-rays from different targets were detected using a high resolution Si(Li) semiconductor detector. For B = 0, the measured K X-ray production cross-sections, K shell fluorescence yields and the IKβ /IKα intensity ratios were compared with the experimental and theoretical data in literature. The results have shown that the fluorescence parameters as photoionization cross section, fluorescence yield, radiation rates and spectral linewidth can change when the irradiation is conducted in a magnetic field.