The participant Coster–Kronig preceded Auger transition in the resonant L 2,3-M 2,3V Auger electron spectrum of Ti metal

Abstract

The L 2,3-M 2,3V resonant Auger electron spectroscopy (RAES) spectrum of Ti metal measured by Le Fêvre et al. [P. Le Fêvre, J. Danger, H. Magnan, D. Chandesris, J. Jupille, S. Bourgeois, M.-A. Arrio, R. Gotter, A. Verdini, A. Morgante, Phys. Rev. B69 (2004) 155421] is analyzed in the light of relaxation and decay of the resonantly excited L 2,3-hole states. The relaxation time of the resonantly excited L 2,3-hole state to the fully relaxed (screened) one is much shorter than the L 2,3-hole Auger decay time, whereas the participant Coster–Kronig (CK) decay time of the resonantly excited L 2-hole state to the fully relaxed L 3-hole state at the L 2 resonance is as short as the relaxation time of the resonantly excited L 2-hole state to the fully relaxed one. The excited electron is predominantly either rapidly decoupled from the L 2,3-hole decay or annihilated by the participant CK decay. Thus, near the L 2,3 edges the L 2,3-M 2,3V RAES spectral peak appears at constant kinetic energy. The L 2,3-M 2,3V RAES spectrum shows a normal L 2,3-M 2,3V Auger decay profile not modulated by the density of empty d states probed by the resonant excitation. Not only the relaxation time but also the participant CK decay time depends on photon energy because they depend on the density of empty d states probed by the resonant excitation. As a result, the L 2,3 X-ray absorption spectroscopy spectral line broadening depends on photon energy.