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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: crt on September 07, 2010, 03:13:20 PM

Title: XRF and AES periodic trend
Post by: crt on September 07, 2010, 03:13:20 PM
Hello,

I do not find anywhere an explanation for the increasing probability of x-ray fluorescence and decreasing probability of Auger process with atomic numbers. For me it would make sense the other way around as the more electrons an atom has the greater the probability is that one of the outer shell electrons is ejected. Does it have something to do with the lifetime of vacant K orbitals? Or with something else?

Thank you
Title: Re: XRF and AES periodic trend
Post by: crt on September 09, 2010, 05:37:08 PM
Could somebody help with this? I haven't found yet the answer and it really disturbs me.
Title: Re: XRF and AES periodic trend
Post by: crt on September 14, 2010, 06:46:51 AM
It took a while to figure it out but there is a logical explanation. For Auger process one needs to take into account Coulomb interactions and for fluorescence dipole radiation. So they are calculated in a different way.