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.

Creation of Core Holes
Ionization
Excitation

X-ray Inelastic Scattering
(XIS)





Decay of Core Holes

Non-Radiant
Radiant





Resonant Processes
Non-Radiant
Resonant Photoelectron Spectroscopy ( RPES)
Resonant Auger Spectroscopy (RAES)
Autoionization Spectroscopy (AIS)

Radiant
Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS)
Resonant X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (RXES)
Participator decay
one hole final state< /font>

Spectator decay
2 hole-1 electron
final state

Participator decay
Recombination process
ground state

Spectator decay
one hole-one electron final state


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