The KrM2,3M45N23 Coster-Kronig processes following electron impact ionisation

The M3M45N23 Coster-Kronig electron spectra of krypton excited by electron impact at low energies have been investigated. This is the first observation of the Read (PCI) effects in the Coster-Kronig processes. At the lowest impact energy (225 eV) an asymmetric line profile that has a tail towards lower energies has been found, while tails towards higher energies have been observed at moderate impact energies in the same way as in previous works for the ordinary Auger processes. The energy shift e of the line has been found to obey the power laws e∝(ΔE)-0.71 and e∝(ΔE)-2.9, where ΔE is the excess energy of primary electrons.