Study of L2,3M4,5M4,5 Auger spectra of Zn and Cu in molecular ZnCl2 and (CuCl)3 vapours

L_2,3M_4,5M_4,5 Auger electron spectra of Zn and Cu have been measured in molecular ZnCl₂ and (CuCl) ₃ vapours. The spectra have been analyzed and compared with the corresponding free-atom spectra. It is found that the main features of the spectra are atomic-like. The energies are shifted by 0.55 eV in ZnCl₂ and by 3.2 eV in (CuCl)₃ towards higher kinetic energy compared with the corresponding free-atom spectra. For the intensity ratios between the L₃ and L₂ groups, the values 2.8 and 3.7 are obtained for Zn and Cu, respectively. These intensity ratio, together with energy considerations based on free-atom Dirac—Fock calculations and observed Auger shifts, indicate that the L₂L₃M_4,5 Coster—Kronig process is energetically possible in (CuCl)₃ molecular clusters but not in ZnCl₂. The satellite structure in the spectra studied also supports this conclusion.