Intra-atomic versus interatomic process in resonant Auger spectra at the TiL23edges in rutile

Abstract

The two components of the Ti ${L}_{23}{M}_{23}V$ Auger transition recorded on a stoichiometric rutile crystal are identified as ${L}_{2}{M}_{23}V$ and ${L}_{3}{M}_{23}V$ contributions. This assignment is evidenced by concordant data relative to resonances of the LMV decay at the Ti ${L}_{23}$ thresholds and to Auger emission recorded in coincidence with the ${2}_{1/2}$ and ${2}_{3/2}$ photoemission at a photon energy far above the Ti ${L}_{23}$ edges. The ${L}_{3}{M}_{23}V$ transition is shown to follow either the direct photoexcitation of a ${2}_{3/2}$ electron or the fast Coster-Kronig decay of a ${2}_{1/2}$ photohole. Although specific LMV contributions related to valence orbitals are identified, the long-suggested dual description of the ${L}_{23}{M}_{23}V$ Auger line as intra-atomic and interatomic transitions are discarded.