Measurement of probabilities of radiative vacancy transfer from the L-3 subshell to the M shell and the N shell for Pb, Th and U

The probabilities of radiative vacancy transfer from the L-3 subshell to the M shell and to the N shell are deduced for Pb, Th and U by measuring the L-3 x-rays and using theoretical L-3-subshell fluorescence yields. To obtain L-3 x-ray spectra of Pb, Th and U, the measurements are made using selective photoionization of the L-3 subshell in these elements. The results are compared with theoretical values based on the relativistic Dirac-Hartree-Slater calculations. To the best of our knowledge, these radiative vacancy-transfer probabilities are reported for the first time.