L-shell X-ray production cross section measured by heavy ion impact on selected rare earth elements

The production cross sections of L-shell X-ray of some rare earth elements have been measured by collision of ¹²C⁴⁺ and ¹⁶O⁴⁺ ions of 0.5 to 0.75 MeV/amu. The results were compared with experimental data of other authors and with theoretical predictions gained by the ECPSSR and ECPSSR plus multiple ionization (ECPSSR+MI) models. For atomic parameters (fluorescence yields and probabilities for Coster-Kronig transitions) the role of several databases were studied. The ECPSSR theory underestimates cross sections when compared with experimental results obtained in the present work, but ECPSSR+MI has a better agreement with the experimental data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

K-shell ionization of low Z elements in ion–solid collisions and applicability of local plasma approximation

K-shell vacancy production cross sections are measured using X-ray technique, in collisions of highly charged fluorine ions with various solid targets such as, Cl, K, Fe and Cu, at energies from 50 to 110 MeV. The experimental data is compared with an ab initio model based on local plasma approximation (LPA) and the usually employed ECPSSR. A detailed comparison with the LPA model is presented as a function of generalized perturbation strength.     

New Experimental Cross-Section Measurements for Cr and Cu and Comparison with Model Predictions

 In order to obtain more accurate experimental values of X-ray emission cross sections, resulting from the interaction of ion with atoms, we have measured them for the K-inner-shell of Cr and Cu elements using a proton beam of energy range 1–2.3 MeV. The experimental data obtained in the present work are compared with the theoretical calculations given by the two models BEA (binary encounter approximation) and ECPSSR (energy coulombian perturbed stationary state relativistic). Also, the present experimental results are compared with those obtained by Paul and Sachert. The comparison shows a good agreement between the previous and the present data with a slight improvement in the measurement accuracy for Cr. From the theoretical point of view, agreement with the experimental data is observed only for the ECPSSR predictions, while the BEA’s cross section calculations at higher energies are approximately 20% lower than the present experimental values.     

New procedure calculation of K-shell ionization cross sections by proton impact

The database, which relies on different compilations available in the literature and on other experimental values extracted from papers published from 1992 till 2010, is used, within the individual treatment of the elements from beryllium (⁴Be) to uranium (⁹²U), to deduce the empirical cross sections. These experimental data can be presented in a single curve, depending on a scaling law extracted from studies in the most familiar theories of collision (PWBA and BEA). Then, a fourth order polynomial was used to fit very well the existing database of K-shell ionization cross sections by proton. This procedure generates a new set of parameters to calculate empirical cross sections. Following the present procedure, our results are compared with those obtained using the ECPSSR model where a discrepancy is observed in the low-proton energy regime.     

Measurement of L subshell photoionisation cross sections of Th and U at 22.6, 25.8, 29.2 and 32.9 kev

Bremsstrahlung from an X-ray tube was used to excite secondary targets of Ag, Sn, I and Ba to get nearly monochromatic excitation energies of 22.6, 25.8, 29.2 and 32.9 keV, respectively. Th and U were used as targets. The L X-ray fluorescence cross sections of different lines from the targets have been measured. Of the several methods to obtain L subshell photoionisation cross sections from these fluorescence data, the merits and demerits of four common methods have been explained and the method with least uncertainty was suggested as the best one for such analysis. Following this method, with intensities of the resolved L_γ lines, three L subshell photoionisation cross sections have been obtained using six different sets of atomic parameters. The variation of these cross sections with different atomic parameters has been discussed. For σ₁, all the derived values are within 30% of one other while for σ₂ and σ₃, they are within 12%. Measured cross sections have been compared with the data of others and with the theoretical values of Scofield. Finally, the intensity ratios of different L lines have also been compared with available data and the theoretical values. Within experimental errors, our data are in good agreement with the data of others and with the theoretical predictions.     

Potential energy surfaces of sodium clusters

We have calculated multidimensional Born- Oppenheimer energy surfaces of singly charged and neutral sodium clusters with quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecapole deformed shapes in a particle range from 8 ≤ N ≤ 58. We use the local-density approximation (LDA) and solve the Kohn-Sham equations on a cylindrical mesh for axially symmetric shapes. Employing the structure-averaged jellium model (SAJM), we ascertain that the correct empirical bulk properties and surface tension are reproduced. Besides a pronounced isomerism in the β ₂/β ₄ plane we also find super-deformed shapes. We compare the PES data with shape transitions deduced from experimental splittings of the dipole. photoabsorption cross sections. The influence of large octupole moments reverts the scheme of prolate-oblate shape transitions above the filled 2p-shell (N = 42, 44) which is wrongly predicted in spheroidal models.     

Total cross-sections for electron scattering from iron at 10–5000 eV using a model optical potential

We report calculations on the total (elastic plus inelastic) electron-scattering cross sections in the energy range 10–5000 eV. A model complex optical potential, composed of static, exchange, polarisation and absorption terms, is employed to describe the collision system at each electron energy. The Iron atom is described by Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater self-consistent charge density. The complex phase shifts are computed in a variable phase approach. The absorption cross sections are compared with the experimental results. The experimental absorption cross sections are obtained by adding the experimental ionisation cross sections and available experimental excitation cross sections for electron impact of the allowed transitions a⁵ D → (x,y,z)⁵ D ⁰, (w,y,z)⁵ P ⁰. We have good qualitative agreement between our results and the experimental results available below 200 eV. The Born-Bethe parameters are also calculated. Elastic differential cross-sections with and without absorption are also reported at a few selected energies.     

Electron scattering differential cross sections for C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6 by gas phase electron diffraction - binding effects

Experimental differential cross sections for 40 keV electrons scattered by C₂H₂, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ molecules were measured using the gas electron diffraction method in the range of the scattering variable s from s = 1 A^?1 to s = 30 A^?1. The differential cross sections for neon were also measured and compared with calculated differential cross sections to calibrate the diffractograph. Experimental differential cross sections show significant deviations with respect to theoretical differential cross sections calculated from the Debye-Ehrenfest model, mainly in the range of small scattering angles. The observed differences are connected to chemical binding effects. From the experimental data, an estimation of the binding energy was carried out. The deduced values: ?0.58 ± 0.20 au for C₂H₂, ?0.94 ± 0.30 au for C₂H₄ and ?1.23 ± 0.40 au for C₂H₆ are in agreement with those obtained by thermochemical methods.     

Proposed standard inelastic differential electron scattering cross sections; Excitation of the 21 P level in He

Differential and integral cross section data for electron-impact excitation of the 2¹ P level in He have been critically reviewed. Experimental and theoretical results have been compared and a set of differential cross sections at 20° scattering angle in the 25 to 500 eV impact energy range has been deduced based on all available information. It is proposed that this set of data represents the most accurate inelastic differential cross sections available at the present time and could be used as a secondary standard for normalization of cross sections.     

Differential, partial and total electron impact ionization cross sections for SF(6)

Single and double differential ionization cross sections for the production of ions resulting from dissociative, single and double ionization of SF(6) by electron impact have been calculated using a semiempirical formulation based on the Jain-Khare approach. In addition, triple differential cross sections have been obtained for some of the doubly charged fragment ions at an incident electron energy of 100, 150, and 200 eV, respectively, and a fixed scattering angle of 30 degrees. As no previous data seem to exist for differential cross sections we have derived from these differential cross sections corresponding partial and total ionization cross sections from threshold up to 900 eV and compared those with the available theoretical and experimental data.     

Parameterization and generation of photon-induced K cross-sections

Theoretical K-shell photoionization and K X-ray fluorescence (K XRF) cross sections have been fitted empirically in polynomials of photon energy E and atomic number Z. This has been used to develop a computer code KCSPIF to generate K-shell photo-ionization and K XRF cross-sections for any element in the range 5≤Z≤95 and for photon energies, above K-edge–1500 keV, when only the atomic number and photon energy are supplied as the input.     

A library for X-ray–matter interaction cross sections for X-ray fluorescence applications

Quantitative estimate of elemental composition by spectroscopic and imaging techniques using X-ray fluorescence requires the availability of accurate data of X-ray interaction with matter. Although a wide number of computer codes and data sets are reported in literature, none of them is presented in the form of freely available library functions which can be easily included in software applications for X-ray fluorescence. This work presents a compilation of data sets from different published works and an xraylib interface in the form of callable functions. Although the target applications are on X-ray fluorescence, cross sections of interactions like photoionization, coherent scattering and Compton scattering, as well as form factors and anomalous scattering functions, are also available.     

Low temperature pressure broadening of OCS by He

We report experimentally measured cross sections for pressure broadening of OCS by He from 4.2 to 23 K. These measurements were made in a quasiequilibrium cell using the collisional cooling technique. Cross sections were obtained for the broadening of the J=2<--1, J=3<--2, and J=4<--3 rotational transitions of OCS. Theoretical cross sections were also calculated using a recent He-OCS potential surface. While at the higher temperatures, approximately 20 K, there is only modest disagreement between experiment and theory, this disagreement increases steadily with decreasing temperature, with predicted cross sections rising steeply while the experimental data remains constant or decreases slightly. Comparisons to similar recent experimental studies are made and reasons for the observed discrepancy between experiment and theory are considered.     

Relative Cross Sections for L- and M-Shell Ionization by Electron Impact

 Results from measurements and calculations of relative L- and M-shell ionization cross sections by electron impact are presented. Measurements were performed for elements Te, Au and Bi on an electron microprobe with specimens consisting of extremely thin films of the studied element deposited on thin, self-supporting, carbon layers. The relative variation of the ionization cross section was obtained by counting the number of characteristic X-rays from the considered element and shell, for varying incident electron energies, from the ionization energy up to 40 keV. Measured data were corrected to account for the energy-dependent spread of the electron beam within the active film and for the ionization due to the electrons backscattered from the carbon layer, using Monte Carlo simulation. Cross sections were evaluated in the Born approximation using an optical-data model with numerically evaluated dipole photoelectric cross sections. Calculated ionization cross section were converted to vacancy production cross sections, which can be directly compared with our experimental data.     

Core-corrected modified Glauber approximation for e±-alkali-metal-atom collisions

The total cross sections for electron and positron scattering by alkali-metal atoms (Li, Na and K) are calculated in a core-corrected modified Glauber approximation using the model potential approach. The results at low intermediate energies are found to be closer to the experimental values of e^± −K total cross section recently measured by Stein et al. (Phys. Rev. Letters 55 (1985) 488). The positron cross sections obtained are also somewhat smaller than the electron ones, as experimental results seem to indicate. Calculations are also performed with the frozen-core approximation.     

Deactivation of He 23S by thermal electrons

The rate coefficient for deactivation of the metastable 2³S state of He by impact of thermal electrons is deduced from recent calculations of inelastic electron-He cross sections. The deactivation rate is found to be nearly constant with temperature. Computed values range between 2.82 and 3.03 (10^?9 cm³/sec) for T between 0 and 2000°K. De-excitation cross sections are given for low-energy incident electrons.     

Theoretical Study on Quantum Dynamics for Ar-HF Inelastic Collision

The integral cross sections and rate constants of pure rotational and ro-vibrational energy transfer processes for the Ar-HF system are thoroughly studied by using the timeindependent close coupling method based on our newly constructed potential energy surface. Compared to previous theoretical results, pure rotational transitions in this work achieve better agreement with the experimental data. For ro-vibrational energy transfer, it is found that quasi-resonant transitions dominate the cross sections in all cases. Furthermore, the vibrational-resolved rate constant of transition v=1→v=0 increases very quickly with the temperature from 100 K to 1500 K and is also in good agreement with the available experimental results.     

Measurement of total and photoelectric cross sections of rare earth elements present in compounds for 123.6 keV and 145.4 keV photons

A new, simple and direct method proposed earlier by us has been employed here to measure the total photoelectric cross section of rare earth elements in the range 58 Z 66 present in compounds at 123.6 keV and 145.4 keV photon energies. The K X-ray fluorescence intensities emitted by these elements, from irradiating their compounds by the photons of above energies, are measured using a NaI (Tl) spectrometer system in a 2π geometrical configuration. The K X-ray fluorescence cross sections of the rare earth elements are determined, from which the total photoelectric cross sections are evaluated. Total mass attenuation coefficients of compounds for the K X-ray and the incident radiations respectively have been measured and these values were compared with the corresponding theoretical values and a good agreement between them is obtained.     

Sorption of U(VI) on magnetic sepiolite investigated by batch and XANES techniques

Additional experimental cross sections were deduced for the long half-life activation products (¹⁷²Hf and ¹⁷³Lu) from the alpha particle induced reactions on ytterbium up to 38 MeV from late, long measurements and for ¹⁷⁵Yb, ¹⁶⁷Tm from a re-evaluation of earlier measured spectra. The cross-sections are compared with the earlier experimental datasets and with the data based on the TALYS theoretical nuclear reaction model (available in the TENDL-2014 and 2015 libraries) and the ALICE-IPPE code.