Multiple-Auger electron ejection after inner-shell ionization and excitation

Results on the Auger decay of core-ionized and core-exited Ar atoms above the Ar 2p threshold and at the Ar 2p 3/2->3d resonance leading to double and triple ionization states are presented. Using a multiple time-of-flight analyzer arrangement for electron-electron coincidences, we directly observe for the first time a double Auger continuum following core electron ionization. Our results show clear evidence for continuously distributed Auger electron intensity over a 160 eV range of kinetic energies. This double Auger decay represents roughly 10 % of the normal single Auger channels. In the case of the resonant Auger decay we also observe a two-electron continuum of the same order of magnitude as in the non-resonant case which can be explained due to the existence of excited states of the doubly charged ion in the vicinity or just above the triple ionization threshold. In the latter case these states can further decay via emission of a low kinetic energy electron, which makes it possible to study the electron emission characteristics of the triple electron process. Both double- and triple-electron emission Auger processes will make it possible to study electron correlations undisturbed by the symmetry properties of the photoabsorption process