L X-ray satellite effects on the determination of photon emission intensities of radionuclides

L X-ray satellites are usually not considered during the fitting procedure of L X-ray spectra obtained with semiconductor detectors. Based on a high energy resolution spectrum of X-rays of ²⁴¹Am obtained with a metallic magnetic calorimeter, it has been demonstrated that satellites are intense with respect to their parent diagram line. In addition, it has been shown that the presence of satellites involves significant systematic errors on the determined photon intensities when they are ignored in the spectrum processing. - Highlights: • ²⁴¹Am L X-ray spectrum measured with ultra-high energy resolution. • Cryogenic detector with a FWHM energy resolution of 25.5 eV. • Evidence of intense L X-ray satellites in ²⁴¹Am. • Systematic errors on individual L X-ray emission intensities due to satellites. • Semiconductor spectrometers are suitable for measurements of L X-ray groups.