Core excitation and deexcitation in argon multilayers: Surface- and bulk-specific transitions and autoionization versus Auger decay.

By photoabsorption in the Ar 2p range of Ar multilayer condensates, distinct contributions of surface and bulk excitations can be distinguished in the characteristic core resonances detected by partial-electron-yield near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure spectra. Compared to the corresponding bulk/gas-phase features, the surface excitations are shifted by ∼0.5 eV towards lower/higher photon energy. Deexcitation of core-to-bound 4s resonances in these condensates leads to distinct spectator-shifted Auger features (2h le final states)