The construction and operation of a simple high-temperature X-ray absorptio
n cell for potassium. vapor is described. The principle of "spectroscopic h
eat pipe" is exploited to separate kapton windows. indispensable for good t
ransmission in the low-energy region. from the hot and aggressive vapor. Hi
gh-resolution spectrum of the K-edge region of atomic potassium reveals fin
gerprints of multielectron photoexcitations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
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