Anomalous K alpha sub 1,2 X-Ray Production in 1.6 MeV Kr--Al Collisions

It is well established that when heavy ions pass through matter, satellites to the normal K X-ray lines are observed. These satellite lines are due to the simultaneous removal of one or more L-shell electrons in addition to the K-electron vacancy created by the projectile. Proton excitation of Al results in the first K alpha satellite being approx 10% of the total K X-ray production, compared to excitation by helium ions for which this satellite line is the dominant feature. A previous investigation by Knudson et al. has shown that for excitation of Al by 5 MeV N ions the strongest satellite lines are from those states which have 2 or 3 L-electron vacancies present at the time the K vacancy is filled. For the case of 1.6 MeV Kr incident on Al nearly as many satellites (up to four L vacancies) are observed; however, the K alpha sub 1,2 line is again dominant. This suggests that either the L-shell vacancies are filled before the 2p--1s decay occurs or that the Kr ion often removes the K electron without creating any L vacancies. Spectra. 11 ref.--AA