Interpretation of x-ray spectra emitted by Ar ions in an electron-cyclotron resonance ion source

We examine the most important processes leading to the creation of excited states from the ground configurations of Ar8+ to Ar16+ ions in an electron- cyclotron resonance ion source, which lead to the emission of K x-ray lines . Theoretical values for inner-shell excitation and ionization cross sectio ns, including double KL ionization, transition probabilities and energies f or the deexcitation processes, are calculated in the framework of the multi -configuration Dirac-Fock method. With reasonable assumptions about the ele ctron energy distribution, a theoretical K alpha x-ray spectrum is obtained , which reproduces very closely a recent experimental result.