Abstract

A new parameterization for the fluorescence yield of K, L and M lines is presented. The motivation was to find a universal parameterization in terms of energy, rather than in terms of atomic number (Z) the way it has normally been done. If the values of the fluorescence yield are plotted against energy, something close to a universal curve is found. However, the difference between the curves for K and L lines is significantly larger than the error and separate parameterizations for K, L and M are given. The uncertainties in the experimental data are very large and the parameterization is expected to be better than the experimental values in many cases. The parameterization values are probably good to 20%. The result presented may be of value in x-ray spectroscopy when values of the fluorescence yield are needed.