Enhancement of Coster-Kronig rates in solid-state environments

Abstract

Comparison of atomic and solid-state Auger spectra suggests that the relative intensities of various features in the M_4,5N_4,5N_4,5 spectra of Xe and Cd are very similar in the solid and free atom, while in Zn Coster-Kronig transitions from the L₂ level appear to be of some importance in the metal, though not allowed in the free atom. The conditions under which Coster-Kronig rates are enhanced in metals are discussed in terms of extra-atomic relaxation, and the large intensity ratio of L₃M_4,5M_4,5/L₂M_4,5M_4,5 processes in Co, Ni and Cu metals may then be readily understood.