The low-energy electron spectrum from the EC-decay of 57Co: 0eV up to 15keV

Abstract

Abstract The low-energy electron spectrum from the 57Co decay has been examined in the region from 0 up to 15 keV at instrumental resolution ranging from 2 to 15 eV. Two electrostatic spectrometers and radioactive sources prepared by vacuum evaporation of 57Co onto Al foils were utilized. Relative intensities of the main spectrum components have been obtained as follows: (TSE+LLX+Shake-off)/LMM/KLL/KLM/KMM/K−14.4/L−14.4/MN−14.4=116±12/51±4/59.7±1.8/15.2±0.4/1.15±0.07/49.6±1.5/5.05±0.15/0.79±0.02 where TSE means “true secondary electrons”. Absolute and relative energies of the LMM, KLL, KLM, and KMM Auger transitions in Fe have also been determined, as well as their relative intensities with the exception of the LMM lines, the shapes of which were strongly distorted due to the inelastic electron scattering and probably also chemical effects. From the measured conversion electron lines of the 14.4 keV M1 transition in 57Fe, a transition energy of 14412.8±0.8 eV and the E2 admixture less than 8×10−6 were derived. Relative intensities of both the KL2,3(M4,5N1) Auger line group and the M4,5N1−14.4 conversion line were found to be lower by about 30% for the “oxide” state of decaying 57Co atoms than for the “metallic” state. Pronounced broadenings of narrow spectrum lines have been observed as a consequence of the oxidation of the 57Co sources in the laboratory atmosphere. Natural widths for most of the KLL, KLM, and KMM Auger lines and those of the K, L1, L2, L3, M1, M2, M3 and N1 atomic levels in 57Fe were also determined.