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Core Level Spectroscopy Creation and Decay of Core Holes Spectroscopic Techniques We can create a core-hole through the absorption of incoming light with energy matched to the binding energy of a core electron. This absoprtion causes the core electron to be excited to a bound state or to the continuum where it will become a free particle. The creation of a core hole by ionization forms the basis for XPS while the creation of a core hole by excitation is studied in XAS. After ionization, the absorbing atom is in a highly excited state due to the creation of a core hole. Soon after the atom relaxes via the core hole decay. Non-radiant dexcitation of core holes forms the basis for AES, while radiant decay is studied in XES, both of which provide tools for probing ocuppie d electronic structure of a model system. These events only consider a core-ionized initial state prior to the decay. However, an in itial state with the core electron instead excited into a bound state can modify the decay process. The two steps, creation and decay, can lead to coupling and the whole process can be considered a one step event. These events are called resonant processes and can involve radiant and non-radiant decays. The excited electron can either participate in the decay process or be passive as a spectator leading to very different types of final states as shown below. Click here or follow the links below for a more detailed description of the different spectroscopic techniques.
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