Resonant photoemission of La and Yb at the 3d absorption edge

Resonant photoemission and resonant Auger experiments at the 3d threshold are presented for La and Yb over a binding energy domain which extends up to the 4p levels. These experimental results are well explained by calculations in the framework of full-multiplet Hartree-Fock theory with an atomic model. Strong participator and spectator Auger transitions are observed without ordinary Auger transition, indicating that the 4f wavefunction is well localized in the intermediate state even in the case of La. The 4d(3/2) and 4d(5/2) branching ratio of the 4d resonant photoemission of La at the M-4 and M-5 edges is observed experimentally and analyzed theoretically. The difference in the resonant processes behavior for La and Yb is discussed based upon the different 4f occupation number. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.