Electronic-state lifetime interference in the resonant Auger decay of krypton

Resonant Auger electron spectra from the close lying 3d3/2^-15p and 3d5/2^-16p core-excited states of Kr have been measured. The intensities of the transitions to the 4p^-25p and 4p^-26p final states have been followed as a function of the exciting photon energy. The effects caused by the lifetime interference between the two Auger decay channels are interpreted by using the one-step picture of the excitation-deexcitation process, with the help of ab initio calculations of the electron wave functions and transition matrix elements. Some aspects beyond the spectator model used are discussed.