The M-Series Absorption Spectrum of Metallic Bismuth

Authors

W. D. Phelps, State University of Iowa

Document Type

Research

Abstract

Using a Siegbahn vacuum spectrometer and thin films of bismuth produced by sputtering, the wavelengths of the five x-ray M-absorption edges of bismuth 83 have been measured. For the edges M₁ and M₂, which had not previously been measured, the discrepancy between the computed and observed values is of the order of magnitude of experimental error while the usual large M₄ and M₅ discrepancies, first observed in this laboratory on other elements, are verified for bismuth. An interpretation of the large discrepancies between the experimental and computed wavelengths of the edges M₄ and M₅ based on experiments in other fields on the one hand and Block's and Kronig's wave-mechanical theory of energy levels in a crystal on the other is suggested. It is concluded that the M₁ , M₂ , and M₃ electron in an absorption act go to the top of the filled free-electron levels while the M₄ and M₅ electrons go on out to higher energy levels of the crystal lattice.

Publication Date

1934

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

41

Issue

1

First Page

249

Last Page

249

Copyright

©1934 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Phelps, W. D. (1934) "The M-Series Absorption Spectrum of Metallic Bismuth," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 41(1), 249-249.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol41/iss1/77