Ag L-shell X-ray production for heavy ions in thin solid targets

Abstract

The effect of target thickness on the Ag L X-ray yields was investigated for 10-40 MeV F ions in charge states 6+ to 9+. The target X-ray yields per scattered ion were independent of target thickness for F6+ ions and deceased for F8+ and F9+ ions. This effect is attributed to quenching of projectile K vacancies in the target. The target X-ray data were fitted using a three-component model and the Ag L X-ray production cross sections for projectiles containing 0, 1 and 2 K-shell vacancies were deduced in the limit of zero target thickness. Additional measurements of Ag L X-ray production cross sections for selected projectiles ranging from H to Cu were made. The results suggest that charge exchange between the F K shell and the Ag L shell is important, even if the projectile does not initially contain K-shell vacancies.