Al target 2p electron excitation in asymmetric collisions with very low energy Ne+ projectiles

We present a study on the 2p electron excitation in Al target atoms in very low energy asymmetric collisions with lighter Ne+ projectile ions. We show that one of the L-shell vacancies originally present in Ne 2p3, created by double 4fσ electron promotion from Ne 2p5 or 2p53s, can be transferred to the Al partner through a two-electron autoexcitation mechanism. Our results provide an interesting interpretation for the previously observed lower threshold energies for target Al LMM Auger emission for Ne+ impact than for Ar+, Kr+, and Xe+. (orig.)