K Auger transitions of the free sodium atom

TheK Auger spectrum of the free sodium atom, following electron impact ionization, was measured with 0.16% resolution using a sodium atomic beam as target. The absolute energies and relative intensities ofKLL, KLM and numerous satellite transitions have been determined. The absolute energies of theKLL transitions of the free sodium atom were found to be smaller by 13.1 eV than the corresponding energies found for sodium in Na₂O (relative to the Fermi level) by Fahlmanet al. Also the relativeKLL intensities differed in two cases indicating solid state and/or chemical effects. The present relative intensities agree better with theoretical values calculated by McGuire, Walters and Bhalla, and Chen and Crasemann than those of Na₂O. In an Appendix the natural line widths of theKLL andKM-LLM transitions of sodium have been calculated.