Astrophysics (Index)About

Auger effect

(atom's emission of an electron along with a photon)

The term Auger effect refers to the occurrence of the occasional ejection of one or more electrons by an atom or ion during the transition of an electron to a lower state of excitation. On these occasions, some of the energy released by this descent ionizes the atom/ion, using some of the energy that would normally be carried by the emitted photon. In addition to one or more electrons ejected, the emitted photon will have a lower frequency.

This scenario can occur after an interaction specifically ejects an atom's electron from a low-numbered electron shell, leaving the ion excited. Subsequently (perhaps immediately) an electron descends into the opening, and the above scenario sometimes occurs when the released energy is enough that it could produce an X-ray photon.

The term Auger de-excitation refers to the de-excitation of an ion due to the effect, and the term Auger electron refers to an electron ejected due to the effect.


(atoms,EMR,physics)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auger_effect
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Atomic/auger.html
https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/Auger_effect.html
https://www.plasma.com/en/plasma-technology-glossary/auger-effect/

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