Observation of participator Auger decay following valence photoionization with excitation

Abstract

``Complete'' valence photoelectron spectra of neon and argon have been measured at several photon energies between 50 and 150 eV. Besides a symmetric shake-off energy spectrum as anticipated theoretically many unexpected electron lines with fixed kinetic energy were observed, particularly in the low-energy part of the spectra. These lines are identified as due to participator Auger transitions from inner-valence satellite states. The consequence of the measured strengths of the valence Auger transitions regarding the common interpretation of valence double-ionization rates in terns of shake-off processes is discussed.