Measurements of M and L X-ray energies and relative intensities emanating from 241Am source

Energies and relative Intensities of 13 X-ray transitions in the M X-ray spectrum (per 100 disintegrations of 241Am) viz. M4N1, Mξ1,2, M3N1, Mα, Mβ, Mγ, M2N1, M3O4,5+M3P1, M3Q1, M1N3, M2N4+M1N3, M2O1 and M1O2,3 lines along with L1-L3 have been measured in addition to the 21 L X-ray lines viz. Lℓ, Lt, Ls, Lα2, Lα1, Lη, Lβ6, Lβ2,15, Lβ4, Lβ5,7, Lβ1, Lβ3, Lβ9,10, Lγ5, Lγ1, Lγ2,8, Lγ3,6, Lγ4,4, Lγ13 including two new lines at 19.63 and 23.17 keV, have been measured. Since the M and L X-ray lines of 93Np in the decay of 241Am source are frequently used for energy and efficiency calibration of the Si(Li)/HpGe detectors, the present measurements have been undertaken with an objective to update the data since there are either no concrete data available (even in the Table of Radioactive Isotopes and Table of Radionuclides) or there exist inconsistencies/disparities in the data available in the earlier publications. We confirm the existence of L1-L3 X-ray transition (falling in the region of M X-ray energy range) and Lt, Ls and Lβ9,10 (forbidden transitions as per selection rules). However, the origin of the two new L X-ray lines at 19.63 and 23.17 keV, both with intensities of 0.05±0.01%, could not be ascertained.