Coster-Kronig decay of 3p core-excited states of atomic zinc

By exciting the M shell of atomic zinc in the 80-110-eV photon energy range with synchrotron radiation, and by using photoelectron and photoion detection, we have located the 3p53d104s2ns (and nd) excited states in the 91-99-eV region. Resonant satellites are observed, allowing us to demonstrate the dominant role played by the 3p-1ns1->3d-2n'l?f interaction upon the decay of the 3p->ns excited states. The 3p-1ns1->3d-2n'l?f super-Coster-Kronig processes produce a large broadening of the 3p excited states which form series of overlapping states. The resonant satellites lying in the high-energy region are singly ionized states of 3p63d84s2n'l configurations, which autoionize into the various 3p63d94p or 3p63d94s states of Zn2+. Ab initio calculations using intermediate coupling have been performed and display good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.