Evolution of the germanium Kβ''' x-ray satellites from threshold to saturation

A study of the photoexited Ge Kβ''' x-ray satellites from onset to saturation using inelastic x-ray scattering is presented. The assignment of the satellites to [1s3d] and [1s3p] excitation channels is confirmed by determination of their different threshold energies and energy positions on the high-energy tail of the Kβ₂ fluorescence line. Direct measurement of the variation of the satellite intensities with increasing excitation energy exhibits a long saturation range to the sudden limit and yields indication for the opening of a [1s3s] excitation channel to the [1s3p] satellite. In this work we separate the contributions of the double-electron excitations to the absorption spectrum and show pure satellite spectra for possible application in experiment based extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure background subtraction taking into account the full properties of the solid state.