Core-valence coupling in the Ru4pphotoexcitation/Auger decay process: Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy study

Abstract

The N{sub 23}VV Auger spectrum of Ru has been measured in coincidence with 4p{sub 1/2} and with 4p{sub 3/2} photoelectrons. Unlike other metals that exhibit bandlike Auger decays, we find that the two Auger spectra are not shifted by the difference in core level binding energies. A consistent description of these transitions and the core level line shape requires consideration of the relativistic multiplet splitting in the intermediate core hole state and two-valence-hole Auger final state. The results suggest that the large linewidth of the 4p levels is primarily due to multiplet splitting, and that an N{sub 2}(N{sub 3}N{sub 45})N{sub 45}N{sub 45} super-Coster-Kronig transition is only a minor decay channel. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.