Cascade Auger decays following Si KL₂₃L₂₃ Auger transitions in SiF₄

Cascade Si LVV Auger decays following KL₂₃L₂₃ Auger transitions have been measured in SiF₄ molecule using an electron spectrometer combined with monochromatized undulator radiation. Molecular cascade processes from the two 2p holes states largely generate wide band structures in the spectra due to sequential electron emission leading to multiple valence holes. However, a peak with high yield is observed for the first time at about 103 eV, an energy being considerably higher than the energies of the normal LVV Auger electron, in the instance of the resonant excitation of Si 1s electron into the vacant molecular orbital. This peak is presumed to originate from the participator decay from the state with two 2p holes and one excited electron into the state with one 2p hole and one valence hole. A similar peak with less intensity is detected in the photoexcitation of the 1s electron into a Rydberg orbital. After the normal KL₂₃L ₂₃ Auger transition, the resultant cascade spectrum shows several peaks, e.g., 61 eV, 76 eV, and 82 eV. The former two peaks are assigned to the Auger transitions of Si atoms produced through molecular ion dissociation after cascade decays, and the latter is probably ascribed to the second step Auger decay into states having a 2p hole together with two valence holes.