Line shape and lifetime in argon 2p electron spectroscopy

The argon 2p photoelectron spectrum and the argon L3M23M231S0 Auger spectrum have been measured at several photon energies between 6 and 80 eV above the 2p3/2 threshold with an instrumental line width significantly smaller then the natural line width. The spectra are described well by the theory of van der Straten et al. [Z. Phys. D 8 (1988) 35] provided that allowance is made for the instrumental resolution and measurements are made at a sufficiently low pressure. The lifetime (Lorentzian) line width determined from these measurements for the core-ionized atom is 112±3 meV, in good agreement with the line width for the 2p3/2 -> 4s core-excited state, 114±2 meV, indicating that the 4s electron has little influence on the Auger decay rate. Remeasurement of the line width for the carbon 1s hole in carbon dioxide gives values in good agreement with the previous measurement of 99 meV.