Abstract. Resonant photoelectron spectra were measured in the photon energy range of Xe 4d to np excitations to study multielectron processes associated with the decay of these resonances. The results show a large fraction of shake-off electrons in the total decay rate and indicate an increase of this fraction with increasing principal quantum number n of the photoexcited electron. Higher resolution measurements reveal that this increase accompanies a decrease in the corresponding probability for shake-up transitions. The consequences of this behaviour regarding double excitations and double Auger decay above the 4d ionisation threshold are discussed.

Print publication: Issue 5 (14 March 1989)