Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS) a tool for understanding auger emission from solids

The Auger emission process from solids can be very complex, with a variety of processes producing intensity in the final spectra. APECS is a technique that can be used to reduce this complexity. In the APECS experiment, Auger electrons are measured only when the corresponding electron from the ionisation event is also measured. Thus, one can eliminate parts of the Auger spectra by looking only at features within the spectra that are due to the particular ionisation event in question. The LVV Auger spectra of the 3d transition metals show many complicating effects. In order to study these, we have made a systematic study of the following metals: Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Ga. While Ga is not a member of the 3d transition metals, it does represent the end of the series and shows some limiting behaviour of many of the trends observed in the other materials. We have observed the L₂₃VV lines in coincidence with the 2p2/3 and 2p1/2 photoemission lines in all these materials. We have also examined several alloys of Ni and Fe. From these studies a number of trends are clear.