RELATIVE INTENSITY OF THE K-BETA(5) X-RAY-LINE

The relative intensity of the K beta(5) (K-M(IV,V)) X-ray line as a fu nction of the atomic number of the emitting elements is very strongly enhanced around Z = 24 (chromium) relative to predictions of the singl e-particle model for this electric dipole (El) forbidden transition. T he enhancement is attributed to solid state or chemical effects. The K beta(5) transition can be El-allowed because in chemical compounds th e outermost 3d level forms the valence shells, while in metals it beco mes a broad band. The intensity of this line can therefore vary with t he chemical state. We have determined the K beta(5)/K beta(1) intensit y ratio that results from proton impact on Ca, Ti and Cr, and we have collected the experimental data available in the literature. The influ ence of the sharp increase in the K beta(5) intensity on the K beta/K alpha. intensity ratio and on X-ray analytical methods (e.g, proton in duced X-ray emission, electron probe microanalysis, etc.) is discussed .