Initial- and final-state excitations in K L23 L23 Auger spectra of Cu and Ni metals, induced near threshold

Abstract

High-energy resolution K L23 L23 Auger spectra of polycrystalline Cu and Ni metals were measured while tuning the energy of the exciting x-rays in the near threshold region up to 50 eV above the K absorption edge. The intensity evolution of the pronounced satellite lines as a function of photon energy reveals different behavior for particular satellites as a consequence of initial state and final state shake excitations. The satellite intensity development near threshold is compared to predictions of different simple models based on the free atom approximation. The observed energy separations between the satellites and the D21 main diagram line is in accord with results from a cluster molecular orbital model and confirms the assignment based on the satellite intensity evolution curves concerning the origin of the satellites. © 2006 The American Physical Society.