Multiple Auger Decay Following Xe~+(4p_(3/2)~(-1)) Ionization

The Auger decay for the many-electron Xe~+(4p_(3/2)~(-1)) state is studied in detail,using multistep approaches.It is found that the single Auger decay channels are primarily Coster-Kronig processes,which is in accord with other theoretical and experimental results.The double and triple Auger decays result primarily from cascade processes,i.e.,the sequential two-step and three-step Auger decay,and as such,the contributions from direct processes can be neglected.Level-to-level rates for single,double,and triple decays are obtained,based on which comprehensive Auger electron spectra and ion yields are obtained.Our decay paths and Auger electron spectra are in agreement with the experimental analysis [Hikosaka et al.,Phys.Rev.A 76(2007) 032708],and our ion yield ratios(Xe~(2+):Xe~(3+):Xe~(4+)=4.6:87.0:8.4) are also in line with their values(5.0:86.0:9.0).However,with respect to the ion yield ratios,a discrepancy still remains among the experimental and theoretical results.Taking into account the complexity of Xe's electronic structure,further,more detailed experiments are still required.     

Energies, Auger and radiative probabilities of the doubly-excited 1s23l3l′ states for Be-like neon

Energy levels, Auger decay and radiative transition rates of the doubly-excited 1s ²3l3l′ states for Be-like neon are calculated using relativistic Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) method. Electron correlation and relaxation effects are taken into account. The magnitude of Auger rates for the 35 doubly-excited states and their decay channels are discussed. Present calculated values are in agreement with the latest experimental electron spectra as well as other theoretical results.     

Multiple Auger Decay Following Xe+(4p3−1/2)Ionization

The Auger decay for the many-electron Xe+(4p3^?1/2)state is studied in detail,using multistep approaches.It is found that the single Auger decay channels are primarily Coster–Kronig processes,which is in accord with other theoretical and experimental results.The double and triple Auger decays result primarily from cascade processes,i.e.,the sequential two-step and three-step Auger decay,and as such,the contributions from direct processes can be neglected.Level-to-level rates for single,double,and triple decays are obtained,based on which comprehensive Auger electron spectra and ion yields are obtained.Our decay paths and Auger electron spectra are in agreement with the experimental analysis[Hikosaka et al.,Phys.Rev.A 76(2007)032708],and our ion yield ratios(Xe²⁺:Xe³⁺:Xe⁴⁺=4.6:87.0:8.4)are also in line with their values(5.0:86.0:9.0).However,with respect to the ion yield ratios,a discrepancy still remains among the experimental and theoretical results.Taking into account the complexity of Xe’s electronic structure,further,more detailed experiments are still required.     

Energies and widths of triply excited states of lithiumlike oxygen and neon

Seven low-lying triply exited states of lithium-like oxygen and neon are calculated with the multichannel saddle-point and saddle-point complex-rotation methods. The term energies are given for these excited states, along with level shifts and partial Auger widths from dominant decay channels. The mass polarization effect and relativistic corrections are included. The radiative transition rates are also calculated. These results are compared with other theoretical data in the literature. Received: 25 May 1998 / Revised: 28 July 1998 / Accepted: 25 August 1998     

Nuclear dissociation after the O 1s $\rightarrow (^4\Sigma_\text{u}^-)$3sσ excitation in O$_2$ molecules

We investigate the dissociation dynamics of core-excited $\mathrm{O}_2$ molecules using a high-resolution energy-resolved electron-ion coincidence experimental setup. The excited cationic states with two valence holes and one Rydberg electron are created after spectator Auger decay induced by $\mathrm{O}$ 1s $\rightarrow (^4\Sigma_{\rm u}^-)3{\rm s}\sigma$ core excitation in $\mathrm{O}_2$. From the energy correlation between the kinetic energy of the Auger electron and the ion kinetic energy release, we distinguish several dissociation channels. Rather complex dissociation channels of the spectator Auger final states are disclosed, which can be explained by the increased number of the crossing point due to the existence of Rydberg electron. The quantum system will evolve into different dissociation limits at each crossing point between the potential energy curves.     

Anisotropy of electrical breakdown in crystalline quartz

Partial breakdown of crystalline silicon dioxide in a pulsed nonuniform electric field is considered. Breakdown channels lie in planes of silicon ions that are parallel to the c axis of the crystal (up to six equivalent directions of the channels are observed). The formation of breakdown channels is satisfactorily described in terms of cascade Auger transitions with regard to the crystallochemical symmetry of the quartz lattice.     

Double Auger decay of A 3d vacancy in Krypton

All possible channels of double Auger decay of a 3d vacancy in a Kr atom are investigated using perturbation theory in a basis of Hartree-Fock wave functions. The energy spectrum of the Auger electrons and the total decay width are calculated. The role of model decay mechanisms is discussed, along with the importance of taking correlation interactions into account. Tomsk Polytechnic University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 54–63, October, 1998.     

Decay channel dependence of the photoelectron angular distributions in core-level ionization of Ne dimers

For K-shell photoionization of neon dimers, we report Ne 1s photoelectron angular distributions for Ne2++Ne+ and Ne++Ne+ channels exhibiting quite different patterns. Noninversion-symmetric patterns of the former obtained by the fast interatomic Coulombic decay of Auger final states show direct evidence of core-hole localization. Dipolar patterns of the latter obtained by the slow radiative decay of the other Auger final states clearly show that the radiative process is slow enough to allow dicationic dimers to rotate many times before fragmentation.     

Multiple photoionization of atoms and small molecules by synchrotron radiation

Absorption of one VUV photon by an atom or a molecule can induce the ejection of several electrons through different processes. Such multiple ionization processes, studied by coincidence electron spectroscopy, provide a wealth of information on electron correlations. A magnetic bottle electron time of flight spectrometer implemented on synchrotron radiation centers has allowed the efficient detection in coincidence of two, three and up to five electrons with good energy resolution. The branching ratios of the different processes are easily extracted from the experimental spectra due to the constant transmission of the spectrometer. Multiple Auger decay was observed in rare gases atoms after inner-shell ionization, while core-valence and core-core initial double ionization followed by Auger decay are other pathways to multiple ionization. For molecules, Coulomb explosion with energy released in ionic fragments may occur after multiple ionization, nevertheless, coincidence electron spectroscopy can also provide a clear interpretation for peculiar decay channels in molecules.     

Dielectronic recombination of positive ions—I. A generalized cascade theory

A generalized theory of dielectronic recombination is formulated, explicitly incorporating the higher-order effect of cascade transitions to all the captured final states which are stable against Auger emission. The previously-used rate formulas contain only the two-step process of target excitation followed by a single radiative transition. The formal reaction theory is employed to precisely define the contribution of the successive open channels to energy shifts and resonance widths. Correct expressions are derived for the radiative and Auger branching ratios associated with each stage of the cascade. Various angular momentum averaging procedures and the effect of the spectator electrons in the participating subshells are discussed.     

Effect of interchannel interaction on the neon KLL Auger transition rates

Calculations of neon KLL Auger rates which include the mixing between the final ²S channels are reported. The results are compared with Kelly's recent many-body-perturbation-theory calculations and with absolute rates, obtained from experiments of Gelius et al. and Krause et al.     

Application of factor analysis to elemental detection limits in sputter depth profiling

Factor analysis of Auger spectra acquired during sputter depth profiling is superior to the conventional peak-to-peak amplitude method for determining elemental compositions, especially when the Auger signal strength is near the detection limit. The reason for the improvement is that factor analysis utilizes information from all the data channels in the Auger spectrum while the peak-to-peak amplitude method uses information from only two data channels. In addition, factor analysis can separate much of the spectral noise from the signal during processing, while peak-to-peak amplitude additively measures signal plus the range of the spectral noise. Procedures can also easily account for interfering species, even when their spectra are not known. In one example, at least a factor of five improvement in the minimum detection limit was achieved. In application to secondary ion mass spectrometry, only a marginal improvement in detection and precision was achieved. This is because our existing procedure (peak area measurement) already utilizes spectral information content fairly efficiently. However, factor analysis is capable of handling spectral interferences that the peak area method cannot.     

Self-consistent LDA calculation in ion neutralization at metal surfaces

The neutralization of He⁺ scattered off aluminum is calculated via a self-consistent LDA where the metal surface is modeled by an LDA jellium surface, and its structure factor is consistently calculated. This approach includes Auger and plasmon-assisted neutralization channels of He⁺ to the He ground state in front of aluminum. We analyze these neutralization channels, which leads us to a revision of the usual calculations of ion neutralization on surfaces depending on the transferred energy lying below, near, or above the metal plasma frequency. The results of this calculation are compared with those of other methods, namely usual unscreened calculations, calculations which extrapolate bulk results, calculations performed for a step potential surface, and surface calculations in the long-distance limit.     

Coulombic energy transfer and triple ionization in clusters

Using neon and its dimer as a specific example, it is shown that excited Auger decay channels that are electronically stable in the isolated monomer can relax in a cluster by electron emission. The decay mechanism, leading to the formation of a tricationic cluster, is based on an efficient energy-transfer process from the excited, dicationic monomer to a neighbor. The decay is ultrafast and expected to be relevant to numerous physical phenomena involving core holes in clusters and other forms of spatially extended atomic and molecular matter.     

Auger electron microscopy: An overview

The aim of Auger electron imaging is to obtain quantitative surface elemental distribution maps at high spatial resolution. The realization of this goal is complicated by many instrumental effects and by spurious data processing contributions giving rise to an image contrast unrelated to the specimen surface composition. The critical properties of scanning Auger microscopy that may cause such a false information or imaging artefacts are reviewed. Instrumental or data processing related effects appear in the case of the beam current variation, of the background slope effect, and of the use of a combined peak to background ratio. The second set of artefacts are mainly due to the significant differences between the penetration depth of the exciting primary electrons and the escape depth of the Auger electron signal. In this case the net effect is a surface elemental contrast which is dominated by the substrate or by the overlayer rather than by the surface under investigation. In addition, there are also topographical effects of the specimen under test which normally affect the Auger yield and hence the contrast in the image. Methods for the successful suppression of some of these artefacts are outlined. They are based on the creation of reference images from complementary signals acquired by additional detection channels in parallel with the Auger signal of interest.Invited lecture presented at the Seminar on Secondary Electrons in Electron Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Microanalysis, Chlum (The Czech Republic), 21–24 September 1993.     

Auger rates of second-row atoms calculated by many-body perturbation theory

Many-body perturbation theory is applied to calculate the KLL Auger rates of all terms of atoms C, N, F and Ne. Theoretical rates are compared with experiment and other theories for Ne and O. A new set of the Auger satellites, corresponding to the main photoelectron line binding energy is proposed. The intensities of these satellites are calculated and some of these satellites are identified in experimental KLL Auger spectra of Ne.     

类锂离子内壳激发态的能量、俄歇宽度和俄歇分支率（英文）

采用鞍点变分方法和鞍点复数转动方法并考虑相对论修正和质量极化效应,计算了类锂离子内壳激发态的能量、俄歇宽度、俄歇分支率和俄歇电子能量.进一步采用截断变分方法饱和空间波函数.计算结果与其他理论结果以及实验数据符合得很好.     

New results in the theory of muonic atom formation in molecular hydrogen

Muonic atom formation in molecular hydrogen proceeds in two stages. In the first stage, the mu-molecular complex (abµe)^* is formed due to Coulomb capture of a muon by a hydrogen molecule (abee), and, in the second stage, the decay of the complex leads to exotic-atom formation. We consider various channels for the decay of the complex. The main competition channels are direct dissociation and Auger decay. The primary distribution of muonic atoms over quantum states and kinetic energy has been obtained taking into account the competition of the decay channels.     

Variational treatment of continuum orbitals for Auger electrons emitted from neon

A variational method is applied to obtain the wave function of the continuum Auger electron emitted from an ionized neon atom. The trial function is taken to depend on several adjustable parameters, and the wave function of the electrons in different orbitals, such that all possible virtual states of the quantum mechanical system composed of the Auger electron and the ion are represented. The continuum wave function is improved iteratively by increasing the number of terms.Auger transition rates are then calculated applying the angular momentum average scheme, and are compared with other theoretical and experimental results. Agreement with the latest experiment is achieved.     

平均原子模型中Au元素自电离速率的计算

为了得到用于平均原子模型中的自电离速率,采用准相对论组态平均的方法系统计算了Au的不同电离度、不同自电离态的自电离速率,计算时使用的波函数由Cowan程序得到;通过组态到组态的自电离速率得到了nl层次的单电子自电离速率(初态平均、末态平均);在此基础上计算出了n层次的单电子自电离速率,这些数据可用于平均原子模型中自电离及其逆过程的计算。为了验证计算出的数据是否可靠,用细致能级层次的程序计算了部分数据点。通过比较和分析认为,除了少量高l的数据点计算得不够准确之外,当前的数据较为可靠,并用其它程序的计算结果对不准确的数据进行了替换。