Chemical effects on K and L shell production cross sections and transfer probabilities in Nb compounds

In this study, the chemical effects on σ_Ki (i = α, β), σ_Lα cross sections, K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios and vacancy transfer probabilities from K to L (η _KL) for pure Nb and Nb compounds were investigated. The samples were excited by 59.5 keV γ-rays from ²⁴¹Am and 5.96 keV photon energy from a ⁵⁵Fe annular radioactive sources. K and L X-rays emitted by samples were counted by an Ultra-LEGe detector with a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. While it was observed that the chemical bonding had an effect on the σ_Kβ, σ_Lα cross sections and K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios for compounds, it was almost negligible for σ_Kα cross section because K_α transitions (2P_3/2,1/2→1S_1/2) occurred in inner shells. It is well known that interactions between central element atom and ligands come into existence in valence state, so outer energy levels are sensitive to the chemical environment. The experimental values of σ_Kα cross section and η _KL are in good agreement with theoretically calculated and other experimental values of pure niobium, but the experimental values of the σ_Kβ, σ_Lα cross sections and K_β/K_α X-ray intensity ratios have differences for some compounds because valence electrons have different bond distances and binding energies in different compounds.