Chemical effects in the carbon K V V Auger line shapes

Abstract

We review the results of a consistent quantitative interpretation of the C KVV Auger line shapes of five different gas phase hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, cyclohexane, benzene, and ethylene), three solids (polyethylene, diamond, and graphite), and a molecularly chemisorbed system (ethylene/Ni). The normal kvv line shape accounts for only about one-half of the total experimental intensity for most of the Auger line shapes. The remaining part of the experimental line shape can be attributed to satellites resulting from resonant excitation or dynamic screening processes. The normal kvv Auger line shapes are seen to reflect delocalized holes; however, correlation effects are very evident. Although these screening and correlation effects complicate the interpretation of the line shapes, they provided a means to obtain unique chemical, electronic, and bonding information, and indeed cause the principal differences seen among the experimental line shapes.