CORE-VALENCE AUGER-SPECTRA OF LIAL ZINTL INTERMETALLIC COMPOUND

Abstract

The core-valence-valence Auger spectra were measured for a nearly stoichiometric polycrystalline LiAl intermetallic compound. These spectra were compared with the self-convolution of die density-of-state curves obtained from theoretical band structure calculations. Major discrepancies between the experimental data and this simple one-particle model prompt a more elaborate treatment to include many-body and core-hold relaxation effects. Significant accumulation of lithium was observed at the surface of the ''as-fractured'' sample. Ion bombardment resulted in lithium removal from the damaged surface layer, as opposed to electron bombardment which caused surface segregation of lithium originating from the bulk.