FOREIGN IMAGING IN AUGER-SPECTROSCOPY - THE SI 2P SPECTRUM OF SILICON TETRAFLUORIDE

We performed Green's function calculations on the double ionization of SiF4 in order to interpret its Si 2p Auger spectrum, which has caused controversy for a decade. We provide an accurate interpretation and a model of far wider generality in the Auger study of ionic species. Contrary to the usual self-imaging picture of Auger spectroscopy, the silicon spectrum exhibits eight distinct bands reflecting a complete and precise image of the fluorine ligands, due to strong hole-localization effects. The generality of this foreign-imaging character of Auger spectroscopy is discussed.