Interfacial auger transitions in oxidised sodium and magnesium

A study of the oxidation of sodium and magnesium under precisely controlled U.H.V. conditions using Auger electron spectroscopy has revealed the presence of Auger transitions which may be interpreted as arising from the interface between the oxide and the underlying metal. These Auger peaks have been assigned transitions of the type: M¹(L_2,3) M(V) O¹(L) where M¹ and O¹ are ionic levels present in the oxide and one of the final state holes M(V) is in the conduction band. The experimentally observed Auger energies agree well with those calculated for the proposed transitions. It is expected that transitions of this type might occur in other metal—oxide systems.