Internal ionization accompanyingKconversion: One-step theory

A one-step theory of internal ionization accompanying $K$ conversion has been developed. The ionization probability and the energy spectrum of the ejected electrons have been calculated using screened relativistic hydrogenic wave functions. It is shown that the probabilities calculated using the present model are in good agreement with the recent experimental values for the $K$-shell internal ionization accompanying $K$ conversion. The calculated results predict that the ionization probability is dependent on the nuclear transition energy and on the multipolarity of the transition. The multipolarity dependence of the spectral shape of the ejected electrons has also been studied.