L-shell x-ray production cross sections of Pd, Ag, and Sn for incident proton energies in the range 3-12 MeV and oxygen ions in the range 15-40 MeV

Absolute $L$-shell x-ray production cross sections have been measured for thin targets of Pd, Ag, and Sn at 1-MeV increments for incident protons in the range from 3 to 12 MeV and in 5-MeV increments for oxygen ions in the range from 15 to 40 MeV. $L$-shell ionization cross sections are calculated from theoretical average $L$-shell fluorescence yields and then compared to both plane-wave Born-approximation (PWBA) and binary-encounter-approximation (BEA) theories. The data are found to be higher than the theoretical predictions except at the lowest projectile energies.