High energy satellites in Auger peaks of Mg and Si

Abstract

The satellite peaks in the high energy side of the Auger L 2,3VV peaks of Mg and Si have been studied. The dependence of the ratio of the satellite to main peak intensities on the primary energy has been measured and the results found to agree with theoretical single to double inner level ionization probabilities as calculated by a semiclassical argument. The position and line shape of the satellites have also been determined. In Mg, though not in Si, eventual plasmon gain and double ionization contributions do not overlap in energy and can then be separated. Changes in the chemical environment are seen to affect the low energy features of the Auger peak, whereas the high energy satellite remains unchanged. It is concluded that double ionization is responsible for the observed high energy satellite of the Auger peak.