Comments on ''L2 subshell Coster-Kronig yield at Z=76 and 81''

We have analyzed the experimental method used by Simsek [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 173 (2001) 269] for determination of the L2 subshell Coster-Kronig (CK) yield f23 in 76Os and 81Tl. It involved measurements of the intensities of the Lα X-rays excited by the K X-rays of two secondary exciters which were primarily excited by the 59.5 keV γ-rays from the 241Am radioisotope. The first of the secondary exciters chosen was having the energy (EKp) of the Kp (p=α, β) X-rays such that BL3<EKα<BL2<EKβ<BL1 and the second was having the energy of the K X-rays such that EKα<BL3 and BL3<EKβ<BL2, where BLj is the Lj subshell ionization threshold for the target element. The f23 value was deduced from small intensity (∼1%) of the Lα X-rays resulting following the L2-L3 CK transitions, which was determined by subtracting the intensity of the Lα X-rays produced following the direct ionization of the L3 subshell from the total intensity of the Lα X-rays produced in the case of target excitation by the first secondary exciter. It is concluded that the deduced f23 value must be associated with an enormously large error as compared to the quoted one ∼20%; thus making the measurements inconsequent. An experimental setup with different sets of secondary exciters is being proposed, which is expected to result in the f23 values with much lesser error