Noble-metal dark-edge fermiology: core-hole memory and the "Zeeman Auger" effect

Published

January 12, 2022

Author(s)

Eric L. Shirley, Joseph Woicik, Conan Weiland, Ahmed Rumaiz, Charles Cardot, Joshua Kas, John Rehr

Abstract

Gold and platinum have the face-centered-cubic crystal structure, are considered noble metals, and differ by one in atomic number. Near-edge M4,5 x-ray absorption and resonant M4,5N6,7N6,7 Auger spectroscopy reveal "dark" edges and a photon-energy-dependence of Auger electron (4f12 final-state) energy distributions. These results are a direct consequence of a delayed onset of d-to-f transitions and space quantization of the 3d hole prepared by photoexcitation that is predominantly d-to-p vs d-to-f. This study showcases the centrifugal barrier for f-wave electrons and spectral evolution arising from the existence of multiple intermediate-state channels and final states for both photoexcitation and Auger decay.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Auger, Au, Pt, multiplet, resonant, x-ray absorption

Citation

Shirley, E. , Woicik, J. , Weiland, C. , Rumaiz, A. , Cardot, C. , Kas, J. and Rehr, J. (2022), Noble-metal dark-edge fermiology: core-hole memory and the "Zeeman Auger" effect, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=932427 (Accessed October 16, 2025)