Relativistic-intermediate-coupling calculations of angular distributions in resonant Auger decay

The angular-distribution parameters of the resonant Auger transitions induced by photoexcitation have been calculated for the L_23-{M}₂₃M₂₃, M_45-{N}₂₃N₂₃ and N_45-{O}₂₃O₂₃ transitions in Ar, Kr, and Xe, respectively. The calculations are carried out using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method in intermediate coupling with configuration interaction. A two-step model is employed to describe the resonant Auger process. As in the case of normal Auger decay, inclusion of the effect of intermediate coupling removes the major discrepancy between theory based on the spectator model and experiment.