MEASUREMENT OF THE L2-L3 COSTER-KRONIG TRANSITION-PROBABILITY IN ND(Z=60)

The L2-L3 Coster-Kronig transition probability f23 in Nd was measured using multiparameter K-vs-L x-ray coincidence techniques. The Nd x rays were obtained from a radioactive source of Pm145. High-energy-resolution germanium and silicon detectors were used to detect the K and L x rays, respectively. A method is described to correct for the very important contribution of K1 x rays to the K2 x-ray peak as well as for the small contribution of K2 x rays to the K1 x-ray peak. The contribution of L x rays to the measured K2-(L+L) coincidences was calculated and subtracted. The value obtained, f23=0.1460.005, is lower than that predicted (0.170) by the latest theoretical calculations, confirming a trend of deviations from theory recently observed in atoms of higher atomic number. It differs, however, from another recently reported value of 0.123 0.013.. AE © 1990 The American Physical Society.