X-ray core states, atomic size and Moseley's law

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 166-167; pp. 51 - 56
• Main Authors: Smith, D.Y., Karstens, William
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 02.05.2000
• Subjects: Atomic electronic structure; Defect radii; Moseley's Law; Oscillator strength; Pauli-principle; Radiation damage; Vinti sum-rule; 61.72; 61.80; Moseley's Law; Defect radii; 11.55.H; 31.10; 32.70.C; 31.15; Pauli-principle; Atomic electronic structure; Oscillator strength; Vinti sum-rule; Radiation damage
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-583X(99)00737-5

Vinti's dipolar sum-rule for the spatial extent of quantum states was tested on atomic K-shell and ns valence states. Agreement between radii derived from absorption spectra and from atomic-structure calculations is excellent, provided Pauli-principle-prohibited transitions are accounted for. These many-electron corrections to the single-electron sum-rule contributed less than 20% to the radii, which supports application of single-electron rules to electron-excess defects as a first approximation. We found the oscillator strength for K-shell excitations decreases rapidly with atomic number because of strength transfer to higher-lying p states. Hence, K-shell contributions to radiation damage decrease with increasing atomic number. A new interpretation of Moseley's law for the X-ray K edge in terms of K-shell radii is described.