Application of Rachinger's method to separate overlapped doublets in the X-ray photoelectron spectrum

Rachinger's method of separating ₁ and ₂ doublets in X-ray emission spectra is applied for the first time to separate the superimposed doublets due to spin-orbit coupling. This method has been applied to separate closely lying doublets such as (Ag 4p_3/2and Ag 4p_1/2, (Ni 3p_3/2and Ni 3p_1/2) and (Cu 3p_3/2and Cu 3p_1/2). The intensities ratios of the separated peaks are measured and compared with the ratios obtained from a first-order calculation. An excellent agreement between the measured and calculated ratios are obtained. Residual background intensities compared with the estimated values are found to agree within certain uncertainties.