Measurements of L_α, L_βx-ray production cross sections of Pb by 16–40 keV electron impact

Abstract

The measurement of Lα, Lβ x-ray production cross sections for the element Pb (Z = 82) by 16–40 keV electron impact is reported in this paper. The target used in the experiment was prepared by evaporating the elemental Pb onto a thick pure carbon substrate. The effects of multiple scattering of electrons when penetrating the target film, of electrons reflected from the thick pure carbon substrate and of bremsstrahlung photons produced by the impact of incident electrons on the target are corrected using the Monte Carlo method. The experimental data, reported here for the first time in the energy region of interest, are compared with the plane-wave Born approximation theory with exchange, Coulomb and relativistic corrections. They are in good agreement.