Observation of the Transition from the Adiabatic to the Sudden Regime for the M3M4,5M4,5(G1) Auger Excitation in Zinc

It has been observed that the photoexcited M3M4,5M4,5(G1) Auger line in Zn asymmetrically broadens to lower energy with increasing photon energy. The broadening can be described by a change in the asymmetry parameter=0.09 in a Doniach-Sunjic line shape. This is the first evidence for the transition from the adiabatic to the sudden regime in a solid. The onset of this change 14 eV above threshold is related to 3d screening electron excitations which are seen as 3p core-level satellites. © 1980 The American Physical Society.