The K-shell Auger decay of atomic oxygen

Relative photoionization cross sections for O+ and O2+ produced by the Auger decay of a 1s hole in atomic oxygen were measured by using synchrotron radiation between 525 and 553 eV. Energies and quantum defects of the members of the two Rydberg series converging to [1s]2s22p4(4P) and [1s]2s22p4(2P) ionization thresholds were determined. In addition, the 2P and 4P ionization thresholds were calculated from the two Rydberg series. The 182 meV resolution of the monochromator allowed a detailed study over both thresholds revealing evidence for post-collision interaction and allowing a comparison of the ionization continuum above both 2P and 4P thresholds with that of the ionization continuum above the Ar L2 and L3 edges. This comparison indicates that the lifetimes of the Ar(2p) and O(1s) hole states are approximately the same.