Importance of dynamical effects in determining the Auger spectral shape: L₂₃-M₄₅M₄₅spectra of Fe, Co, and Cu

Abstract

We estimate the relative contributions of the decay channels arising from various Coster-Kronig (CK) and initial-state shake processes to the satellite intensity accompanying the L₂- and L₃-M₄₅M₄₅ Auger spectra of Cu. While the intensity ratios between the L₂- and L₃-M₄₅M₄₅ spectral features in Fe and Co also exhibit pronounced effects of the Coster-Kronig L₂-L₃M₄₅ transition, the CK process does not lead to the formation of distinct satellites in the L₃-M₄₅M₄₅ spectral region, in contrast to the case of Cu. This fact establishes that the M₄₅ hole generated by the CK transition primarily decays before the L₃-hole Auger decay in the 3d transition elements up to Co.