Muonic cascade: General discussion and application to the third-row elements

The experimental data on muonic x-ray intensities for the third-row atoms (Z = 11-17) are analyzed in a unified way. The deduced initial/ distributions are not very far from the statistical ones; they are, however, somewhat steeper near the closed atomic shells and somewhat flatter in the middle of the shell. The K -electron refilling rate is fast increasing with Z; it is considerably smaller than the refilling rate of normal neutral atoms. The calculation shows that in these light atoms the inner electron shells (K and L) are strongly perturbed during the muonic cascade. Correct treatment of their depletion and refilling is essential. The two existing computer cascade programs are compared. It is stressed that a correct treatment of penetration effects as well as inclusion of quadrupoles in the Auger electron emission is necessary when one wants to utilize the full accuracy of the experimental data.