Recent photoabsorption measurements in the rare gases and alkalis in the 3 to 15 keV photon energy region

The attenuation cross-section of photons in helium in the range 3 to 14 keV has been measured. The results indicate the importance of Compton scattering in this range and show reasonable agreement with theory. The authors have also used a heat-pipe to measure absorption spectra in argon, potassium and rubidium near their respective K-edges and have made identifications using relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations. Some ion spectra near and below the K-edges of argon and potassium are also presented