Microsc. Microanal. Microstruct. 6, 263-288 (1995)
DOI: 10.1051/mmm:1995123

The Development of Auger Spectroscopy as a Probe of Local Electronic Structure

Peter Weightman

Physics Department and-IRC in Surface Science, University of Liverpool, Oxford St. Liverpool L69 3BX, UK

Abstract
This review is concerned with the development of Auger spectroscopy as a probe of local electronic structure. The contribution that CCC, CCV and CVV Auger transitions can make to the study of electronic structure is reviewed and the appropriate theoretical context for the interpretation of the spectra produced by each process is discussed. It is shown how Auger spectroscopy can yield insight into on-site electron correlation, charge transfer and electron screening in a variety of systems and can be used to develop potential models that give rise to a new scale of electronegativity. Studies of particular transitions reveal the local electron configuration and the shape of the local density of states in the vicinity of a core-ionised site. Auger profiles are sensitive to the hybridisation between d bands and sp bands and to the localisation of screening charge. The recent development of high performance instruments and of sophisticated theoretical techniques is allowing Auger spectroscopy to reach its full potential as a probe of local electronic structure.

PACS
8280P - Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis photoelectron, Auger spectroscopy, etc..
3280H - Auger effect and inner shell ionization atoms.
3380E - Autoionization, photoionization, and photodetachment of molecules.
7920F - Electron surface impact: Auger emission.
7150 - Localized single particle electronic states.
7155J - Localization in disordered structures.
3470 - Charge transfer atoms and molecules.
0130R - Reviews and tutorial papers: resource letters.

Key words
Auger effect -- charge exchange -- electronegativity -- electronic structure -- localised states -- reviews -- Auger spectroscopy -- local electronic structure probe -- Auger transitions -- review -- electron correlation -- charge transfer -- electron screening -- potential models -- electronegativity -- local electron configuration -- local density of states -- core ionised site -- Auger profiles -- hybridisation between d bands and sp bands -- screening charge localisation


© EDP Sciences 1995