Photoelectron recapture observed via second-step Auger decay

Hentges R, Müller N, Viefhaus J, Heinzmann U, Becker U. Photoelectron recapture observed via second-step Auger decay. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS B-ATOMIC MOLECULAR AND OPTICAL PHYSICS. 2004;37(13):L267-L273.Electron spectra of second-step Auger decay were taken in small steps in the vicinity of the Ne 1s --> np resonances and in the near threshold regime. The spectra reveal that above the K-shell ionization limit energetically forbidden second-step Auger decay has still considerable intensity. We attribute this intensity to a recapture process of the primary photoelectron into unoccupied states and subsequent emission of a valence electron via second-step or cascade Auger decay. It is to our knowledge the first observation of delayed cascade Auger post collision interaction