Method of determining the value of the Coster-Kronig parameter (f₂₃)

The present work demonstrates the utility and efficacy of a technique to measure the Coster-Kronig parameter (f₂₃) of elemental targets. For this purpose a pure gold foil was irradiated in a beam of 88-keV γ rays from a radioactive ¹⁰⁹Cd source. The photoinduced K and L x rays emitted from the gold foil were then measured in coincidence, with the data collected in the list mode. On analysis, the f₂₃ value of gold was found to be 0.119±0.003. The technique demonstrated here is different in the sense that, in contrast to the earlier coincidence methods, where the x rays emitted directly from a radioactive source are detected in coincidence, in the present method the x rays of the elements under investigation are obtained by photoionization.