Complete Auger decay pathways of Kr 3d−1 hole levels including direct double processes

Abstract

The detailed level-to-level single and double Auger decay rates of Kr 3d−1 hole states are investigated in the framework of the first and second perturbation theory implemented by distorted wave approximation with the balanced large-scale configuration interaction of the successive ions being taken into account. The branching ratios of cascade and direct double Auger decay to the total probability are predicted to be 16.5% and 16.1%, respectively, for Kr and 16.8% and 17.2% for Kr , resulting in total double branching ratios of 32.6% and 34.0% for the two levels of Kr 3d−1 hole. A comparison is made with the available experimental results on the branching ratio into triply charged ions and good agreement was found with the most recent published work. This work represents the first theoretical study to correctly explain the experimental measurements. The complete pathways were depicted by including the direct double Auger decay process. Compared with the Auger decay of Ar 2p−1, the fraction of the cascade double of Kr 3d−1 is dramatically enhanced yet that of direct double Auger processes is only slightly increased.