Applied Radiation and Isotopes 122 (2017) 41–46

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Applied Radiation and Isotopes

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso

Measurements of M and L X-ray energies and relative intensities emanating MARK

from 241Am source
H.R. Verma
Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, India

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Energies and relative Intensities of 13 X-ray transitions in the M X-ray spectrum (per 100 disintegrations of
241 241
Am radioactive source Am) viz. M4N1, Mξ1,2, M3N1, Mα, Mβ, Mγ, M2N1, M3O4,5+M3P1, M3Q1, M1N3, M2N4+M1N3, M2O1 and
93Np M and L X-ray-transitions M1O2,3 lines along with L1-L3 have been measured in addition to the 21 L X-ray lines viz. Lℓ, Lt, Ls, Lα2, Lα1, Lη,
Energy and intensity measurements Lβ6, Lβ2,15, Lβ4, Lβ5,7, Lβ1, Lβ3, Lβ9,10, Lγ5, Lγ1, Lγ2,8, Lγ3,6, Lγ4,4, Lγ13 including two new lines at 19.63 and
Si(Li) detector
23.17 keV, have been measured. Since the M and L X-ray lines of 93Np in the decay of 241Am source are
frequently used for energy and efficiency calibration of the Si(Li)/HpGe detectors, the present measurements
have been undertaken with an objective to update the data since there are either no concrete data available
(even in the Table of Radioactive Isotopes and Table of Radionuclides) or there exist inconsistencies/disparities
in the data available in the earlier publications. We confirm the existence of L1-L3 X-ray transition (falling in the
region of M X-ray energy range) and Lt, Ls and Lβ9,10 (forbidden transitions as per selection rules). However, the
origin of the two new L X-ray lines at 19.63 and 23.17 keV, both with intensities of 0.05 ± 0.01%, could not be
ascertained.

1. Introduction of 93Np emitted by 241Am source has however, a large difference in

Several of the important phenomena in X-ray physics have been
understood by studying K-, L- and M-shell X-ray line intensities
produced by irradiation of matter with X/gamma-rays or bombardment
with charged particles. These phenomena are mainly employed in
Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Particle Induced X-
ray Emission (PIXE) respectively (Verma, 2007). In these techniques,
the X-ray spectra are measured with high-precision Si(Li)/HpGe X-ray
detector which needs to be calibrated in terms of energy and efficiency
(Campbell, 2002; Knoll, 2010). While the 241Am radioactive source is
used as Gamma-excitation source in the EDXRF technique, it is also
used for energy and efficiency calibration of Si(Li) and HpGe X-ray
detectors employed in EDXRF and PIXE studies (Campbell and McGhee,
1986; Pajek et al., 1989; Rodríguez-Fernández et al., 1994; Braich et al.,
1996; Mohanty et al., 2008; Verma, 2013). The paper of Campbell and
McGhee (1986) has listed 241Am as an important radioactive source for
efficiency calibration of Si(Li) detectors in the 3−40 keV range.
However, the book by Knoll (2010) shows the X- and γ-ray spectrum
of 241Am given by Gehrke and Lokken (1971) and the X-ray line
intensities corresponding to Lα, Lβ+η, Lγ and Gamma-rays of 26.35
and 59.54 as given by Campbell and McGhee (1986) for efficiency
calibration of Si(Li) detectors. The lowest energy available for effi-
ciency determination studies is the 3.3 keV M-shell x-ray group of lines
their measured I(X)/I(γ) intensities (Karttunen et al., 1971; Cohen,
1980; Campbell and McGhee, 1986). Campbell and McGhee (1986) has
categorically pointed out that the 3.3 keV M X-ray line from 241Am,
low-energy photon intensity standard, has a comparatively large (9%)
uncertainty quoted for its emission rate.
In the Si-K and Au-M absorption edge low energy region, the
efficiency determination of the Si(Li) detector has been carried out by
Pajek et al. (1989) by the PIXE method using proton- and 4He-ion
beams on low-Z target elements and using the K-shell X-ray productions
cross sections of the target elements. For efficiency calibration of HpGe
X-ray detector, Mohanty et al. (2008) have used 3.3 keV Np M X-ray in
addition to the NpL X-ray and gamma-rays emitted by 241Am, taking the
NpL X-ray line intensities recommended by IAEA (1991) and found the
intensities, given by Chu et al. (1999) in WWW Table of Radioactive
Isotopes, to be inappropriate. Even the total intensity percent of the L X-
ray lines, with energies ranging from 11.89 to 22.2 keV, have marked
difference as it has been quoted as 37.7 ± 0.5 (measured value) and
40.2 ± 0.9 (calculated value) by Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001) and
(36.7 ± 2.1)% by Chechev and Kuzmenko in LNE-LNHB/CEA-Table de
Radionucléides (Bé et al. 2010).
The 241Am (Half-life of 432.2 ± 0.7 Years) decays by 100% through
alpha transitions to 237Np. Most of the decay (84.6%) populates the
excited level of 237Np with energy of 59.54 keV. The decay of this state

E-mail address: drhrverma1948@gmail.com.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.01.005
Received 10 July 2016; Received in revised form 26 December 2016; Accepted 11 January 2017
Available online 12 January 2017
0969-8043/ © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
H.R. Verma
directly into the ground state happens 94% of the time, while in 6% of
the cases, the decay from this state is to a lower nuclear excited state,
33.2 keV above the ground state (Chechev and Kuzmenko, 2009). The
other three energies are from Neptunium electrons making transitions
which result in Lα, Lβ, and Lγ X-rays (13.9, 17.8, and 20.8 keV
respectively). The following points regarding the L and M X-rays of
241
93Np emanating from Am, presented in the earlier publications, are
noteworthy:
(i) While WWW Table of Radioactive Isotopes based on the Lund/
LBNL Nuclear Data Search (Chu et al. 1999) provides energies and
relative intensities of Lℓ, Lα2, Lα1, Lη, Lβ6, Lβ2, Lβ4, Lβ5, Lβ1, Lβ3,
Lγ1, Lγ2, Lγ3, Lγ6 of 93Np, Zschornack (2007) has listed energies of
various L and M X-ray lines of 93Np. However, the later report by
Kortright and Thompson (2009) has only listed the energy of Mα1
X-ray line up to 92U and has not listed any value for 93Np Mα1 line.
(ii) In addition to the L X-ray transitions, Cohen (1988) reported
measurements on relative intensities of the M X-ray transitions
from 241Am, including L1-L3 transition in the group of M X-ray
lines. The L1-L3 radiative transition was first seen in the singles M
X-ray spectrum of 241Am and confirmed in coincidence with L3-X-
rays by Karttunen et al. (1971). Based on these measurements,
L1L3 X-ray line has been adopted in the list of M X-ray lines by
Zschornack (2007). Measuring the M X-ray lines of 92U with better
resolution technique of Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence
(WDXRF), Dellith et al. (2011) has made no reference to L1L3 line
of energy 4.59 keV (as can be calculated from energy values
assigned to these levels of 92U) although they have measured the
intensities of M2N4 of 4.402 keV, M1N3 of 4.503 keV and M2O1 of
4.864 keV falling in this region of L1-L3 X-ray. Since this transition
has not been reported in any of the other papers on M X-ray
emission of high-Z elements due to impact of photons/charged
particles, it is pertinent to reinvestigate the L1L3 transition of
4.818 keV, emanating from 241Am, falling in the group of M X-ray
lines.
(iii) Measurements of L X-ray lines from 241Am by Cohen (1988) and
Lépy et al. (2008) present the L X-ray emission probabilities of
very week Lt (L3-M2) of energy 12.244 keV and Ls (L3-M3)
transitions of energy 13.177 keV which otherwise happens to be
forbidden transitions according to selection rules. Similarly mea-
surements of Cohen (1988) and Lépy et al. (2008) has assigned the
values for their emission probabilities for the Lβ9,10 (L1-M5,4)
transitions of energy 18.58 and 18.76 keV, which also are other-
wise forbidden,. These transitions (Lt, Ls, Lβ9,10) are further listed
in the book of Zschornack (2007) but no values are given as
calculated emission probabilities by Schönfeld and Schötzig
(2001). Whether and why these forbidden transitions exist is a
key question which needs to be addressed.
(iv) The reference to the measurements by Cohen (1988) and Lépy
et al. (2008) have been mentioned in the decay scheme of 241Am
as presented in the Table of Radionuclides (Bé, 2010) and the
comments on evaluation of decay data of 241Am (Chechev and
Kuzmenko, 2009) updated up to 2009. The above work has been
supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in
order to keep the data updated. The data have been collected and
evaluated by an international working group (Decay Data
Evaluation Project, DDEP) led by the Laboratoire National de
métrologie et d′essais – Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel
(LNE-LNHB). However, the intensity values of individual M and
L X-ray lines emanating from 241Am, based on the previous
publications, have neither been adopted nor mentioned. The
revelations made in these two compilations are as follows:
(a) 241
Am – Comments on evaluation of decay data by Chechev and
Kuzmenko (2009), provides the experimental values of L X-ray line
intensities in the decay of 241Am measured by various authors
42
Applied Radiation and Isotopes 122 (2017) 41–46
including Gehrke and Lokken (1971), Campbell and McNelles
(1974), Cohen (1988) and Lépy et al. (1994, 2008). Based on these
experimental results, the absolute Np LX-ray emission probabilities
for only five transitions, i.e., Lℓ (0.844 ± 0.009)%, Lα (13.02 ±
0.10)%, Lη (0.384 ± 0.020)%, Lβ (18.58 ± 0.13)% and Lγ (4.83 ±
0.03)%, have been recommended. The comparison of these re-
commended intensity values with the calculated values of
Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001) show significant difference for Lα
(13.3 ± 0.4)%, Lβ (20.0 ± 0.6)% and Lγ (5.17 ± 0.14)%.
Secondly, the total absolute emission probability of Np M X-rays
is the experimental result given in the paper of Karttunen et al.
(1971) quoted as 6.35 ± 0.60 per 100 decay of 241Am. These X-ray
transitions intensities are relative to the 26.345 keV γ-transition,
the intensity of which has been recommended as 2.31 ± 0.08% by
Chechev and Kuzmenko (2009) based on various available experi-
mental data for this gamma-transition.
(b) In Table of Radionuclides, Bé et al. (2010) have listed energy values
for Lℓ (11.89 keV) and Lη (15.876 keV) but indicated the energy
ranges for Lα (13.76–13.944 keV), Lβ (16.13–17.79 keV) and Lγ of
20.12 22.2 keV group of transitions. Further, the XL(Np) total
emission probability has been given as 37.66(17) photons per 100
disintegration relative to the γ2,1(Np) of 26.3446(2) keV having
intensity of 2.31(8) photons per 100 disintegrations.
(a) Chu et al. (1999) in Table of Radioactive Isotopes lists only all
important L X-ray transitions. The intensity values of various
transitions are significantly lower than those of Lépy et al. (2008)
(vi) An outcome of twenty-year project at NIST, Deslattes et al.
(2003) have provided experimental K and L X-ray energies by combin-
ing modern theoretical calculations with evaluated selected experi-
mental data, to produce a comprehensive data for all of the elements
from Neon to Fermium.
From this and the above noted two compilations, it is amply clear
that no data exist for the component M X-ray lines of the M X-ray group
(having average energy of 3.3 keV) and there is still a lack of
recommended data relating to energies and intensities of L X-ray lines
emanating from 241Am. In this paper, an attempt has thus been made to
carry out the precise measurements on M and L X-ray line energies and
intensities emanating from 241Am, in order to update the literature and
make the X-ray data of this isotope useful for future applications. In
context to the efficiency calibration of Si(Li) detectors, the present data
will help to measure the efficiency more precisely, using intensities of
Mα, Mβ and Mγ lines corresponding to the energies of these component
lines, rather than the total M X-ray group.
In the light of the above, we report the measurements on L and M X-
rays of 93Np emanating from 241Am because of the incompleteness and
the following inconsistencies and disparities in the existing data. Since
it is not possible to measure all the individual L and M X-ray lines with
the Si(Li) detector due to its limited resolution, the various groups of
the X-ray lines are deconvoluted further into various subgroups Mζ
(M4–N2; M5–N3), Mδ (M4–N3; M3–N1), Mα(M5–N6,7,O3), Mβ (M4–
N6,O2,3; M3–N2), Mγ(M3–N4,5) and Mm1(M3–O1,4,5,N6,7; M2–N4; M1–
N2,3), Mm2 (M2–O1,4; M1–O2,3) using computer software as detailed in
our earlier paper (Braich et al., 1996) related to the X-ray cross section
measurements using and heavy charged particles and also by Kaur et al.
(2014) in their papers related to the X-ray cross section measurements
using photons.
2. Experimental
2.1. Data acquisition, energy and efficiency calibration of Si(Li) detector
L and M X-rays from a calibrated 10 μCi 241Am were measured by
Si(Li) detector (ORTEC Model No. SLP-06165-S) having energy resolu-
tion 150 eV at 6.4 keV. The energy calibration of the Si(Li) detector was
H.R. Verma Applied Radiation and Isotopes 122 (2017) 41–46

made taking the Mα (3.262 keV) and Mβ (3.436 keV) X-ray component
lines from 241Am as given by Cohen (1988), Kα and Kβ lines of the
standard radioactive sources 55Fe and 57Co as given in the Table of
Radionuclides (Bé et al., 2010) and K X-ray line energies due to the
proton bombardment on thin foils of 22Ti, 24Cr and 29Cu as given in the
X-ray Data Booklet (Thompson, 2009), 11.89 keV Lℓ X-ray and
26.345 keV gamma-ray lines from 241Am (Bé et al., 2010; Chechev
and Kuzmenko, 2009). The efficiency of the Si(Li) detector was
determined from K X-ray cross section measurements of 22Ti, 24Cr
and 29Cu foils bombarded by 3 MeV protons (Mehta, 1992) in addition
to primary method of using calibrated 55Fe and 57Co X-ray sources as
described elsewhere (Braich et al., 1996). These experimental efficiency
values of the detector were supplemented by the theoretical values at
various energy values from the detector parameters, as per information
provided by ORTEC, such as thickness of gold contact layer, Si-sensitive
and dead layers and the Be-window by following the procedure
described by Pajek et al. (1989). These efficiency values, so obtained,
were further corrected for X-ray absorption in the Mylar window,
separating the Si(Li) detector from the source, and the air gap between
source and the detector, as per the geometry of the experiment. The
efficiency curve, so obtained, was least square fitted in two parts (i) Fig. 2. A typical L X-ray spectrum of 241Am as recorded by a Si(Li)detector and the
positions of various component lines obtained after fitting the spectrum in different
one, for the steep low energy region from 2 to 7 keV (using polynomial
groups (Lℓ, Lα, Lβ, Lγ) of X-ray lines. Peaks marked (?) are the new but unassigned
fitting on the log-log scale) for the purpose of M X-ray intensity transitions.
calculations and (ii) two, for the rather flat and relatively higher energy
region from 7 keV onwards by using normal polynomial fitting for L X- Since only 15 maximum lines can be fitted in any region of interest
rays and Gamma-ray line intensities. using “NFIT” software, we divided the L X-ray spectrum so as to cover
under three groups, viz. Lℓ, Lα and Lβ lines, Lα, Lβ and Lγ lines, Lβ, Lγ
2.2. Spectrum analysis and 26.345 keV γ-transition. This also helped to make comparison of
the peak areas with different linear background for each group. The
Spectra of M and L X-rays emanating from 241Am source were positions of the component lines corresponding to various X-ray lines in
recorded with good statistics. Since the two important factors in these a typical L X-ray spectrum are as shown in Fig. 2. The results of the
measurements are the resolution of the detector and the compatible fitting were also verified by OriginPro (2016) software.
software to analyze the recorded spectra, the groups of M and L X-ray
lines were obtained by a least square fitting interactive code “NFIT”
3. Results and discussion
(Nakano et al., 1990) workable on a personal computer as described in
our earlier papers (Braich et al., 1996; Verma, 2013). The fitting
The results for M and L X-ray energies and their intensities are
method helps to separate the component lines at variable/fixed peak
presented in Tables 1 and 2 which have been calculated by taking the
positions and peak widths and fits various lines so as to minimize the
26.345 keV γ-ray peak intensity equal to 2.31(8)%, as recommended by
residue between the raw data and the fitted components using Voigt
Chechev and Kuzmenko (2009). The uncertainties in the X-ray line
function (Gaussian with Lorentzian convolution). A typical spectrum of
energies are ~ 5 eV for strong line and ~ 10 eV for the weak lines and
M X-ray lines, emanating from 241Am source, as recorded by the Si(Li)
are mainly due to the fitting of the component lines. The uncertainties
detector and the various component lines, along with the background,
in the relative intensities of strong lines are ~5% while those of the
obtained after fitting the raw data is as shown in Fig. 1.
weak lines are ~10–15%. The uncertainty in these intensity values,
presented in brackets as the numbers in the last digits of the values,
arise mainly due to the uncertainties in the efficiency values of the
Si(Li) detector, due to the statistical variation in the background fitting
and subtraction, yield of various X-rays and their self absorption and
counting statistics for the weak lines.
We have compared our results with those of Cohen (1988) for both
M and L X-rays and with those of Chu et al. (1999) and Lépy et al.
(2008) for L X-ray transitions. The second peak position of the M X-ray
spectrum at 2.608 keV is the sum of Mξ1,2(M5N3+M4N2) and Mδ
(M4N3), since we are not able to resolve the Mξ1,2 (M5N3+M4N2) of
energy 2.55 keV from Mδ (M4N3) of 2.764 keV. A comparison (Table 1)
shows that our results for the intensities of various M X-ray transitions
are 10–15% higher for most of the strong transitions like Mα, Mβ, Mγ,
approximately ~30% higher for L1-L3 and approximately ~50% higher
for M3N1, (M2N1+M3O1) and (M2O4+M1O2,3) than the values
given by Cohen (1988), normalized to 26.345 keV γ-transition.
As shown in Table 2, our results for L X-ray intensities of various
transitions are higher than those presented in the Table of Radioactive
Isotopes (Chu et al., 1999), but in agreement with those of Lépy et al.
(2008), within experimental uncertainties which range to < 5% for
Fig. 1. A typical M X-ray spectrum of 241Am as recorded by a Si(Li)detector and the strong Lα1, Lβ1 and Lγ1 X-ray transitions. Although the intensity values
various component lines along with the background obtained after fitting the raw data. for the total Lβ and Lγ groups are matching with those of Lépy et al.

43
H.R. Verma Applied Radiation and Isotopes 122 (2017) 41–46

Table 1
241
Energies and relative intensities of M X-ray lines of 93Np emanating from Am source.

M X-ray Line/group of lines Cohen (1988) Present Work

Energy (keV) Relative Intensity Rel. Intensity normalized to 26.3 keV Energy (keV) Rel. Intensity w.r.t. 26.345 keV γ-ray
w.r.t Lα=1 using their Lα branching ratio=0.127(4) (= 2.31 ± 0.08)

M4N1 2.350 0.0162 (12) 0.206 2.362 0.25 (3)

Mξ1,2 (M5N3+M4N2) 2.551 0.0249 (9) 0.316 2.567 0.35 (3)
Mδ (M4N3)
M3N1 2.933 0.0064 (8) 0.0813 2.904 0.18 (2)
Mα (M5N6,7) 3.262 0.173 (4) 2.197 3.262 2.46 (10)
Mβ (M4N6) + M5O3 3.436 0.164 (4) 2.083 3.436 2.43 (10)
Mγ (M3N4,5) +M5P3 3.663 0.0357 (5) 0.453 3.681 0.52 (3)
M2N1 +M3O1 3.867 0.0093 (10) 0.118 3.900 0.23 (2)
M3O4,5+M3P1 4.244 0.11 (1)
M1N2+M3Q1 4.469 0.22 (2)
M1N2,3+M3O1,4,5 4.50 0.0138 (14) 0.175
M2N4 + M1N3 4.707 0.10 (1)
L1-L3 4.818 0.0149 (5) 0.189 4.812 0.26 (2)
M2O1 5.044 0.06 (1)
M2O4+M1O2,3 5.40 0.0022 (17) 0.028 5.312 0.08 (1)

(2008) within experimental uncertainties yet the intensities for some of
the component lines e.g. Lβ1, Lβ3, Lγ2,8, Lγ3,6 of these major groups
differ due to the fitting procedure (fixing the energies of the component
lines and then allowing them to vary so as to give the best fit) and
repeating the fitting procedure by changing the background under the
whole Lβ or Lγ group or the total spectrum of L X-ray group of lines.
Our value for Lβ6 (L3-N1) intensity is higher because it also contains
L3N2 +L2M2 transitions. The intensity values for the weak Ls, Lγ5 and
Lγ13 transitions have however, been found to be larger than those of
Lépy et al. (2008). A comparison of intensities for strong Lα1, Lβ1 and
Lγ1 transitions with the earlier publications show that the measured
values of Chu et al. (1999) in the Table of Radioactive Isotopes are
smaller and calculated values of Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001) are
higher than our measured results.
The other important features of the results based on the present
measurements are as follows:
(i) The forbidden transitions ‘Lt’ (L3-M2) and ‘Ls’ (L3-M3) observed by
Cohen (1988) and Lépy et al. (2008) have also been found in the
present measurements at 12.23 and 12.96 keV respectively.
Similarly, the Lβ 9,10 (L1M4,5) transition has been clearly observed
at 18.734 keV. These forbidden transitions not allowed by the
selection rules: Δn=anything, Δℓ = ± 1, Δmℓ=0, ± 1 are still
possible (not truly forbidden) but these occur with much smaller

Table 2
241
Energies and relative intensities of L X-ray lines of 93Np emanating from Am source.

L X-ray Lines of Cohen (1988) Table of Radioactive Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001) Le´py et al. (2008) Present Work (Relative
93Np from the Isotopes Chu et al. (1999) Intensity values w. r. t
decay of 241Am 26.345 keV γ-transition)

Energy Relative Energy (keV) Intensity Energy Calculated Energy Intensity (%) Energy Relative
(keV) Intensity w.r. (keV) Emission (keV) (keV) Intensity (%)
t Lα Probability (%)

Lℓ(L3-M1) 11.871 0.0654 (5) 11.871 0.66 (9) 11.890 0.842 (27) 11.87 0.837 (9) 11.893 0.79 (3)
Lt (L3-M2) 12.244 0.0013 (50) 12.24 0.0260 (5) 12.23 0.021 (3)
Ls (L3-M3) 13.177 0.0023 (36) 13.18 0.0199 (5) 12.96 0.044 (6)
Lα2 (L3-M4) 13.942 1.00 (3) 13.761 1.07 (11) 13.7597 1.37 (5) 13.76 1.398 (15) 13.762 1.22 (3)
Lα1 (L3-M5) 13.946 9.6 (10) 13.9441 12.0 (4) 13.95 11.60 (12) 13.962 11.4 (2)
Lη (L2-M1) 15.862 0.0290 (4) 15.861 0.153 (19) 15.876 0.383 (16) 15.86 0.404 (5) 15.892 0.51 (2)
Lβ6 (L3-N1) +L3N2 16.111 0.0186 (11) 16.109 0.184 (19) 16.13 0.218 (20) 16.11 0.248 (3) 16.241 0.38 (2)
+L2M2
Lβ15 (L3-N5) 16.79 2.93 (10) 16.79 0.339 (4) 16.848 2.90 (6)
Lβ2 (L3-N4) 16.95 0.353 (3) 16.816 2.5 (3) −16.84 16.84 2.451 (26)
Lβ4 (L1-M2) 17.061 1.5 (3) 17.0608 1.74 (8) 17.06 1.736 (18) 17.023 1.80 (4)
Lβ7 (L3-O1) 17.27 0.639 (20) 17.27 0.594 (6) 17.288 0.41 (3)
Lβ5 (L3-O4,5) 17.75 1.055 (3) 17.505 0.65 (7) −17.51 17.50
Lβ1 (L2-M4) 17.751 5.7 (8) 17.7504 13.4 (6) 17.75 11.83 (12) 17.758 12.46 (25)
Lβ3 (L1M3) 17.992 1.37 (24) 17.989 1.48 (7) 17.99 1.310 (13) 18.092 0.65 (3)
Lβ 9,10 18.67 0.0139 (8) 18.574(3) 18.58 0.054 (1) 18.736 0.11 (2)
(L1M4,5) 18.759(3) 18.76 0.047 (1)
Lγ5 (L2N1) 20.101 0.0087 (10) 20.12 0.106 (5) 20.10 0.087 (1) 20.106 0.16 (2)
Lγ1 (L2N4) 20.785 0.223 (3) 20.784 1.39 (18) 20.7848 3.19 (13) 20.78 2.94 (3) 20.793 2.92 (4)
Lγ2 (L1N2) 21.31 0.126 (5) 21.099 0.65 (12) 21.11 0.481 (21) 21.10, 0.467 (5) 21.193 0.516 (20)
Lγ8 (L2O1) 21.26 1.16 (4) 21.26 0.520 (6)
Lγ3 (L1N3) 21.342 0.59 (11) −21.49 21.34 21.466 0.84 (7)
Lγ6 (L2O4) 21.491 0.29 (4) 21.49 0.567 (6)
Lγ4,4’ L1O3+L1O2 22.18 0.0202 (6) 22.20 0.236 (10) 22.12 0.173 (2) 22.216 0.20 (2)
Lγ13 (L1P2,3) 22.40 0.069 (1) 22.43 0.010 (3)
26.345 keV γ- 26.345 0.189 (3) 26.3 2.31 (8) 26.345 26.345 2.31 (8)
transition

44
H.R. Verma
Table 3
Ltot and Mtot X-ray intensities and Mtot/Ltot and Mtot/Lα X-ray Intensity ratios emanating from
Ltot and Mtot Intensity or Karttunen et al. (1971) per Cohen (1988)
Intensity Ratios 100 decays of 241Am
Normalized to
Lα=1
I(Mtot) 6.35 (60) 0.445 (5)
I(Ltot) 2.93 (3)
I(Mtot)/I(Ltot) 0.195
I(Mtot)/I(Lα) 0.470 (45) 0.445
probabilities.
(ii) The intensity of Lt transition is in agreement with that of Lépy
et al. (2008) and the intensity of Ls transitions is found to be
approximately double than that of Lt transition. This is in contra-
diction to the results of Lépy et al. (2008) according to whom Ls is
weaker than Lt.
(iii) A peak at energy 12.6 keV between ‘Ls’ and ‘Lt’ transition has been
shown by Lépy et al. (2008) in the spectrum recorded by them but
was not assigned to any transition. This transition was not found in
our measurements. However, we assign the energy of 12.96 keV to
the ‘Ls’ peak instead of 13.18 keV as given by Cohen (1988) and
Lépy et al. (2008)
(iv) We have measured the energy and intensity of the allowed L1-L3
transition (Table 1) falling in the M X-ray energy region in
conformity with Cohen (1988).
(v) As shown in Fig. 2, we have observed two new transitions in our
measurements i.e. 19.63 keV peak (between Lβ9,10 and Lγ5) and
23.17 keV peak (after Lγ13), both with relative intensities of
0.05(1)% relative to 2.31(8) for 26.345 keV γ-transition.
Although the peaks at 19.63 keV and 23.17 keV (marked as? in
Fig. 2 and are well below the Compton edge of 26.345 keV γ-
transition which is marked as CS26.3γ) are clearly visible in the
spectrum yet we have not listed these L X-ray transitions in
Table 2. It is because of the reason that it was not possible to
assign the transition and their origin could not be ascertained.
Our measured result for Mtot and Ltot intensities along with the
I(Mtot)/I(Ltot) and I(Mtot)/I(Lα) intensity ratios are presented in
Table 3. The ratio I(Mtot)/I(Ltot) comes out to be 0.19 (1) which is
in good agreement with value of 0.195 by Cohen (1988) within quoted
uncertainties. However, our result for I(Mtot)/I(Lα) comes out to be
0.58 (5) which is higher than both the IAEA value of 0.470(45) as
quoted by Karttunen (1971) and those of Cohen (1988). Our results for
the total L X-ray intensity comes out to be 37.83 (20) which is lower
than the calculated value of Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001), but in good
agreement with the values given by Cohen (1988) and measured values
of Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001).
4. Conclusions
In these measurements, we report the measurement of 13 M X-ray
and 21 L X-ray lines. The present results add new data regarding
relative intensities of M X-ray transitions from the decay of 241Am, as no
data were available after Cohen (1988). Attempt has been made to
make the lower energy M X-ray group of lines from 241Am source, as
useful for energy calibration of X-ray detectors by specifying the
energies and relative intensities of the strong Mα, Mβ and Mγ lines,
clear the discrepancies in the existing data and to verify/discard the
uncertain L X-ay transitions. The present measurement on M X-ray
spectra confirms the existence L1-L3 transition falling in the energy
regime of M X-rays. Analysis of L X-ray spectrum, confirms the
existence of non-allowed Ls, Lt and Lβ9,10 transitions. The standard
values of branching ratios of various strong L X-ray transitions given in
Table of Radioactive Isotopes (Chu et al., 1999) have been found to
Applied Radiation and Isotopes 122 (2017) 41–46
241
Am source.
Schönfeld and Schötzig (2001) Bé et al. Present
(2010) Results
Using NpLα branching Calculated Measured
ratio =0.127 (4)
5.65 7.25 (10)
37.21 40.2 (9) 37.7 (5) 36.7 (21) 37.33 (20)
0.19 (1)
0.58 (5)
have much smaller values. The unfitted area in the figure by Lépy et al.
(2008), indicates unassigned peak at 21.7 keV, was not be observed in
our measurements. Possibly, the new peaks at 19.63 and 23.17 keV,
both with intensities of 0.05 ± 0.01% observed by us in the spectrum of
241
Am, will interest the researchers for future studies since the origin of
these new transitions could not be ascertained.
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