M-X-ray production cross-sections for 0.2-2 MeV deuterons

M-X-ray production cross-sections by deuterons of energies 0.2-2.0 MeV were measured systematically for selected heavy elements between Ta and Th and the results are reported for the most intense M(alpha beta)(M(4,5)N(6,7)), M(gamma)(M(3)N(4,5)) and M(3)O(4,5) M-X-ray transitions. The measured M-X-ray production cross-sections are found to be universal with respect to M-shell scaled velocity xi(M), allowing thus a simple parameterization of the experimental deuteron-induced M-X-ray cross-sections for applications. This parameterization is found to be accurate within a few percent. The measured M-X-ray cross-sections for deuterons are compared with available theoretical calculations of M-shell ionization by charged particles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.