Muonic cascade: General discussion and application to the third-row elements

The experimental data on muonic x-ray intensities for the third-row atoms ($Z=11-17\mathrm{}$) are analyzed in a unified way. The deduced initial $l$ distributions are not very far from the statistical ones; they are, however, somewhat steeper near the closed atomic shells and somewhat flatter in the middle of the shell. The $K$-electron refilling rate is fast increasing with $Z$; it is considerably smaller than the refilling rate of normal neutral atoms. The calculation shows that in these light atoms the inner electron shells ($K$ and $L$) are strongly perturbed during the muonic cascade. Correct treatment of their depletion and refilling is essential. The two existing computer cascade programs are compared. It is stressed that a correct treatment of penetration effects as well as inclusion of quadrupoles in the Auger electron emission is necessary when one wants to utilize the full accuracy of the experimental data.