Investigation of valence inter-multiplet Auger transitions in Ne following 1s photoelectron recapture

We employ a novel technique in which highly excited Rydberg states of Ne + 2p 4 n p are populated via PCI-induced recapture of the near-threshold 1s photoelectron (De Fanis et al 2004 Phys. Rev. A 70 040702) to investigate valence inter-multiplet Auger transitions. The following series of the transitions have been observed: Ne + 2p 4 ( 1 D) n p 2 L → Ne 2+ 2p 4 3 P J , Ne + 2p 4 ( 1 S) n p 2 P →Ne 2+ 2p 4 3 P J and Ne + 2p 4 ( 1 S) n p 2 P →Ne 2+ 2p 4 1 D. Their energy positions, quantum defects and the anisotropy parameters of the Auger electron emission have been determined. Experimental results are in good agreement with multi-configuration Dirac–Fock calculations carried out as a part of this study. The importance of interference effects for decays via naturally overlapping fine-structure components of the intermediate state is discussed.