Enhancement of Coster-Kronig rates in solid-state environments

Comparison of atomic and solid-state Auger spectra suggests that the relative intensities of various features in the M4,5N4,5N4,5 spectra of Xe and Cd are very similar in the solid and free atom, while in Zn Coster-Kronig transitions from the L2 level appear to be of some importance in the metal, though not allowed in the free atom. The conditions under which Coster-Kronig rates are enhanced in metals are discussed in terms of extra-atomic relaxation, and the large intensity ratio of L3M4,5M4,5/L2M4,5M4,5 processes in Co, Ni and Cu metals may then be readily understood.