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Fig. 2 | EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry

Fig. 2

From: Auger electrons for cancer therapy – a review

Fig. 2

Auger electron emission can be initiated by electron capture (EC) or internal conversion (IC). In EC, protons capture an inner (K) orbital electron resulting in a primary electron vacancy. This vacancy Is filled by decay of a lower energy electron of a higher orbital (i.e. L-shell). The difference in the electronic binding energy of the two orbitals can either (a) result in the emission of a characteristic X-ray of energy equal to the electronic transition energy (EL-EK) or (b) be transferred to an electron of lower binding energy (Eb), imparting it with kinetic energy upon ejection from the atom as an Auger electron. Progressive higher shell vacancies occur in the electron shells due to these electron transitions (open circles). c IC occurs in the de-excitation of unstable nuclei that impart sufficient energy to an electron to result in its ejection as an IC electron with high energy, also resulting in an inner orbital vacancy

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