Spectra of L x rays from fast highly charged Xe ions traveling in solids

Spectra of L x rays emitted by 6- and 8-MeV/u Xe ions interacting with a variety of solid targets have been measured with a curved-crystal spectrometer. The spectra displayed an overall structure consisting of six strong peaks which were fairly well resolved for low-Z targets (Z₂=3–6), but broadened into two featureless groups for higher-Z targets. The main components were identified as Lα₁ and Lβ₁ pairs associated with initial-state configurations having one to six L-shell vacancies. Detailed spectral analysis provided estimates of the average projectile charges and the average L- and M-electron populations inside the solids.