Average K-, L-, and M-shell fluorescence yields: A new semi-empirical formulae

Theoretical, experimental, and analytical methods for the calculation of K-, L-, and M-shell fluorescence yields (ωK,ωL,andωM) of different elements are very important because of the large number of their applications in various areas of physical-chemistry, and medical research. In the present work, all the experimental K-, L-, and M-shell fluorescence yields taken from distinctive sources, for elements with atomic number 4≤Z≤99 for the K shell, 23≤Z≤96 for the L shell, and 40≤Z≤92for the M shell, are studied. A detailed analysis of these data, and a table with weighted average values (ωKW,ωLW,andωMW)of these parameters are presented. New recommended values ωWR are obtained dividing the experimental ratios (ωEXP) by the weighted ratios (ωW) and removing out-of-range values (less than 0.9 or greater than 1.1). At that point, new values of average fluorescence yields were deduced using an interpolation that involves the well-known analytical function [ωWR/(1−ωWR)]1/4as function of the atomic number Z, and then semi-empirical data were deduced by fitting the ratio S=ωEXP/ωWR, for the three shells. A comparison was made with other theoretical, experimental, and empirical values reported in the literature. An evident correlation was observed between our result and other works. •A critical examination of more than 1348 experimental K, L, and M shells fluorescence yields were performed.•The collected fluorescence yields cover the period from 1934 to 2021.•The recommended weighted average value were used to deduce the semi-empirical fluorescence yields.•Reasonable agreement was typically obtained between our result and other works.