<i>M</i> and <i>N</i> core excitations in zirconium

The structures in the electron-energy-loss spectra for the long-lived 3<i>p</i>, 3<i>d</i>, and 4<i>s</i> core excitations in clean zirconium are accounted for by the unoccupied density of states. Transitions to final states with different angular momenta are observed. The short-lived 4<i>p</i> excitations can only be understood in terms of an atomic theory given by Fano that treats excitation and relaxation processes simultaneously. It is concluded that the spatial overlap of the atomic wave function of different initial states with those of the 4<i>d</i>-projected final states are responsible for these observations.