Electronic transitions of high probability corresponding to X-ray absorption discontinuities

Abstract

At certain X-ray absorption discontinuities, electronic transitions can create an electronic configuration in the outermost shell of an atom that resembles that of an atom of the next-higher element in the periodic table. It is shown that there is a high probability of these transitions occurring, notwithstanding that they obey the selection rule Δl = -1, 0, ±2. The high probability is ascribed to a mechanism of capture and binding of the last electron in successive binding during the formation of the atom in the field of the nucleus.