The Auger spectrum of solid ammonia

Abstract

The Auger electron spectrum of solid ammonia has been measured using Al K α radiation as an excitation source. The spectral profile has been analysed in terms of seven main peaks, as for the free molecule spectrum, along with an additional satellite peak at higher kinetic energy. The major change from the gas phase to the solid state spectrum is a significant lifetime broadening of the peaks involving the 3a 1-type molecular orbital. In the free molecule the 3a 1 orbital is occupied by a lone pair of electrons, whereas, in the solid these electrons are primarily responsible for the hydrogen bonding between the NH 3 entities forming the molecular crystal.