The KVV Auger spectrum of lithium metal

Abstract

A high resolution Auger spectrum of polycrystalline lithium is presented in undifferentiated form. The single Auger peak in the region of 50 eV is identified with KVV Auger transitions in the lithium metal, and has a profile qualitatively similar to the L_2,3VV spectrum of aluminium (Powell 1973); there is a broad peak which falls steeply from the maximum to a high energy threshold, generally consistent with a band like picture for the conduction electrons in the metal, and on the low energy side of the peak there is an intense plasmon tail. Two free electron models are developed, one being a bulk model, the other including an idealized surface. The bulk model is unable to reproduce the major features of the spectrum, but the surface model gives improved agreement.