High- and low-energy Auger-electron transitions in ytterbium and gold: Theory and experiments

High- and low-energy Auger-electron transitions in Yb and Au have been studied experimentally and theoretically. The solid-state M45N67N67 transitions in Au are well described: both in terms of relative energies as well as relative intensities: by a calculation in the mixed-coupling scheme applying jj coupling in the initial state and intermediate coupling in the final state. In the case of Yb, cascade effects play a significant role at the low-energy wing of the corresponding transition. An experimental determination of the vapor--solid-state shift of the 1I6 main line in the M45N67N67 transition gives 13.4 eV, which is several electron volts below the prediction of the thermochemical model. The very-low-energy Auger-electron transition at 22.6 eV in Yb is interpreted as an O23N67X Auger-electron transition, where the X level has a predominant d character