The L Auger spectra of 64155Gd, 65159Tb, 67165Ho and 70171Yb from radioactive decay

Abstract

The L Auger spectra of 155Gd, 159Tb, 165Ho and 171Yb resulting from radioactive decay were analysed at an instrumental resolution of 7 and/or 12 eV by means of an electrostatic spectrometer. The L 3 M 4,5 M 4,5 line groups of 167Er and 169Tm were also measured. The energies and relative intensities of about 50–70 L Auger lines or line groups were determined for each spectrum. With the exception of 155Gd, the measured absolute energies of the dominant L 3 M 4 M 5 lines were higher by about 21 eV than those expected from the semi-empirical calculations of Larkins. Relative intensities of non-relativistic calculations in jj coupling by McGuire were found to be in reasonable agreement with the measurements. Intermediate coupling splittings predicted by Larkins for the L 3 M 4,5 M 5 lines were observed in all studied spectra. Intense “spectator vacancy” satellites were seen in L 3 MM Auger spectra of 169Tm and 171Yb. The L Coster—Kronig spectra of 159Tb, 160Ho and 169Tm were also measured, although no detailed analysis was made.