Widths of X-Ray Lines from Alloy Targets

The widths of the Kα x-ray lines have been found to depend upon the physical or chemical state of the target. Several alloys of Ni, Fe, Mn, Cr and Ti have been used. The widths of the lines of element A when alloyed with element B may be increased or decreased, depending on element B. Targets of Mn-Ni show an approximately linear increase in the width of Kα₁ with relative increase of Ni, reaching, at 50-50 atomic concentration, a maximum width of 23 percent greater than the width from pure Mn, then, with further addition of Ni, an approximately linear decrease with the same slope as before. In general the width of Kα₁ is more susceptible than of Kα₂ to changes in the atomic environment but the ratio of peak intensities varies in a compensating manner to allow the ratio of integrated intensities of α₁ to α₂ to remain constant, 2 to 1, within the estimated error of ±{}4 percent. All the lines are asymmetrical.