Measurement of the muonic x-ray cascade in Mg, AI, In, Ho, and Au

Abstract

The muonic x-ray cascades in metallic targets of Mg, Al, In, Ho, and Au have been measured with Ge detectors. X-ray intensities from levels with principal quantum numbers up ton=15 were determined. Radiative Coulomb capture of muons to low lying levels was searched for but not found. The experimental intensities could be reproduced by cascade calculations starting atn=20 with properly chosen initial angular momentum distributions, either modified statistical or — in the case of Ho —linear. The electronicK refilling rates for Mg and Al were found to be roughly only one third of the refilling rates for aK hole in an ordinary atom. The full refilling rate, however, is adequate for the heavier elements.