A Theory of the Form of the X-Ray Emission Bands of Metals

It is shown that the optical transition probabilities for transitions from the conduction levels in metals to the $K$- and $L$-levels may vary strongly within the lowest allowed zone, and will also depend on the azimuthal quantum number of the final state. An explanation is given of the form of the x-ray emission bands observed by O'Bryan and Skinner for Li, Be, Mg, Al.