Experimental determination of the gadolinium L subshells fluorescence yields and Coster-Kronig transition probabilities

TL;DR

This study experimentally measures the fluorescence yields and Coster-Kronig transition probabilities of gadolinium's L subshells using two complementary high-resolution X-ray spectrometry methods, providing validated and reliable data.

Contribution

It introduces two independent experimental approaches for determining Gd L subshell properties and compares their results to existing literature, enhancing data accuracy and reliability.

Findings

Determined Gd L subshell fluorescence yields.

Measured Gd L subshell Coster-Kronig transition probabilities.

Validated results with high-resolution spectrometry and calibration.

Abstract

The L subshell Coster Kronig (CK) transition factors of Gd have been experimentally determined by means of two different experimental approaches and compared to available literature data. On the one hand reference-free X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis using an energy-dispersive detector was applied. This method permitted in addition to determine the L subshell fluorescence yields since the absolute incident and emitted X-ray photon flux can be determined. On the other hand a wavelength dispersive spectrometer based on a modified von Hamos geometry using a full cylinder highly annealed pyrolithic graphite crystal for an experimental validation of the CK transition factors in an independent experiment. The use of this high energy resolution spectrometer allowed thanks to the capability to better discriminate the different X-ray emission lines to validate the reference-free XRF results. For both experiments the use of calibrated instrumentation enabled the provision a reliable uncertainty budget on the results obtained.