The X-Ray<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>K</mml:mi></mml:math>Absorption Edges of the Elements Fe (26) to Ge (32)

Abstract

The structures of the x-ray $K$ absorption edges of the elements Fe to Ge have been measured with a double crystal spectrometer. Measurements were extended about 20 volts beyond the main edge in each case. In the regions of secondary structure, new maxima and minima have been resolved, and their intensities compared with results obtained photographically. The two sets of measurements are found to disagree much more than could be expected from the estimated precisions. Wave-length positions of the first empty levels above the Fermi distribution have been assigned with a probable error of less than 0.1 X.U., and widths of $K$ states have been determined to within half a volt by matching theoretical arctangent curves to the experimental edges. Previously measured ${K}_{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2, 5}}$ emission lines have been plotted with the corresponding absorption edges and the shapes of both lines and edges explained on the basis of distributions of states in the electronic energy bands of these metals. The ${K}_{{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{5}}$ line is interpreted as a dipole transition arising from the mixture of $p$ function in the $3d$ bands. Quantitative agreement is obtained in a correlation of the observed Cu emission and absorption structures with the recently calculated electronic bands of this metal.