Auger decay of the 3d hole in the isoelectronic series of Br, Kr+ , and Rb2+

Abstract

The Auger decay process of the $3{d}_{5/2}$ hole is studied experimentally and theoretically along the isoelectronic Br, ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{2+}$ series with electron configuration [Ar] $3{d}^{9}4{s}^{2}4{p}^{6}$. The experimental results consist of multielectron coincidence data measured from all three elements and conventional high-resolution Auger spectrum for the Br case. Theoretical interpretation was done by using multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations. It is found that the decay rate of two-Auger-electron emission increases along the series in the direction of decreasing nuclear charge. Also, complexity of the Auger spectrum follows the same trend, requiring a drastic increase to the size of the configuration space for describing the observed spectra.