2p core spectrum of atomic potassium: Comparison of binding energies and intensities with the Auger spectrum and with theory

The $2P$ core region of atomic potassium has been studied with Al Kα (1486.6-eV) radiation. Core binding energies of 300.56(6) eV for 2p3/2 and 303.31(6) eV for 2p1/2 electrons have been measured and compared with previous measurements and with theory. A satellite at 6.3 eV higher binding energy than the 2p3/2 peak with a relative intensity of (17.8±{}1.0)% has been observed; an analogous satellite has also been observed for 2p1/2. Good agreement was found with calculations which assign the satellites to 4s→5s excitation accompanying core ionization. Analogous satellites were identified in the L2,3M2,3M2,3 and L2,3M2,3N₁ Auger spectra, and it was found that the background in the Auger spectra should be taken to be lower than previously assumed in order to get good agreement between the relative intensities obtained in the photoelectron and Auger studies. The photoelectron intensity ratio I_2p3/2I_2p1/2 was found to be 1.75(7); this confirms the prediction of Dirac-Slater calculations that this ratio is less than the statistical value of 2.