Anomalous two-electron auger resonance in thorium near the 5d(O5) photothreshold

The photoexcited $\text{O}{}_5\text{P}{}_3\text{V (5d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{6p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{valence}\text{)}$ Auger emission line for thorium metal shows an anomalous increase in kinetic energy of ～ 1 eV as the photon energy hv is increased through the atomic-like 5d → 5f resonant excitation at hv_r = 89 eV. Possible mechanisms for this anomalous behavior are discussed, and it is suggested that it can be interpreted as a two-electron resonance involving the O₅P₃V Auger excitation and a shake-up satellite of the $\text{6p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ core level excitation.