Experimental determination of tantalum L-shell fluorescence yields and Coster–Kronig transition probabilities

Abstract

Using radiometrically calibrated instrumentation of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the L-shell fluorescence yields and Coster–Kronig factors of tantalum (including the uncertainty budget) were experimentally determined based on transmission and X-ray fluorescence experiments. The determined fluorescence yields (ω_L3 = 0.247(12), ω_L2 = 0.278(15), ω_L1 = 0.157(12)) were independently validated through XRR-GIXRF experiments. Both the Coster–Kronig factors (f₂₃ = 0.123(84), f₁₃ = 0.328(152), f₁₂ = 0.14(11)) as well as the fluorescence yields are in good agreement with the most established databases in the field of X-ray fluorescence.