Obtaining density of states information from self-deconvolution of Auger band-type spectra

A systematic revision of the techniques to isolate Auger peaks in experimental spectra obtained with LEED/AES analyzers has been carried out: Background subtraction, deconvolution with the elastic peak and inversion of self-convolution. New techniques have been devised and applied to the Auger spectra of graphite, aluminum, magnesium, magnesium oxide and silicon. Self-deconvolution of these spectra leads to a transition density function that has been compared with the density of states of the valence band near the surface, as given by other competitive techniques (XPS, UPS, XES) and by theory. This comparison shows that in those meterials, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) is a sensitive probe of the electron environment of surface atoms.