Correspondence of electron spectra from photoionization and nuclear internal conversion

Electron energy spectra have been measured that result from K-shell ionization of Kr by two different mechanisms: (1) photoionization and (2) internal conversion in the decay of the isomeric state of ${}_{}{}^{83}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Kr}$. It is demonstrated experimentally that these spectra, including satellites on the low-energy side of the primary 1s-electron peak, are identical. A theoretical interpretation of the identity of the spectra is given. The spectra agree well with a relativistic many-electron calculation in which the satellites are attributed to excitation and ionization of M and N electrons during the K-ionization process.