Empirical cross sections for K X-ray emission by proton bombardment

Empirical proton-induced K X-ray emission cross sections are presented for all elements from 4Be up to 92U in a wide energy range. These values are obtained by fitting almost all the experimental data available from the literature in terms of weighted orthonormal polynomials. Original data are carefully screened to ascertain their precision and accuracy. Methods are discussed for removing statistical bias both on a local and a global basis. Final estimates are precise and accurate and have noticeably smaller errors than any single measurement. The present results are compared to empirical and analytical cross-section formulae. (orig.)