Anomalous satellite intensity discrepancy in copper x-ray lines

The copper K alpha spectrum contains asymmetries and satellite features due to secondary electron emission during ionization. Theoretical attempts at determining the intensities of these features are highly discrepant from experimental results. This discrepancy has been the subject of much discussion. In the present work we show that widely applied fitting procedures produce satellite intensities which depend strongly on assumptions regarding parametrization. We also show that recent high-accuracy satellite calculations can provide a copper K alpha spectrum in good agreement with experiment, thus resolving the discrepancy. This represents a major step toward a complete ab initio x-ray spectrum, a goal with significant implications for astrophysics, plasma physics, and tests of quantum electrodynamics.