Effects of initial-state laser excitation on inner-shell photoionization and Auger decay of Rb

The 3d⁻¹ photoionization and subsequent M_4,5N_2,3N_2,3 Auger electron spectra of free initially laser-excited rubidium atoms have been investigated. The rubidium atoms were excited from the ground state [Kr]5s_1∕2 to the [Kr]5p_1∕2 and [Kr]5p_3∕2 states. Emphasis was put on the changes in coupling and electron correlation between the three different initial states. The ground state 3d photoelecton spectrum of free Rb atoms was interpreted in detail. The binding energies for 3d_3∕2,5∕2 orbitals of initially ground-state and laser-excited Rb atoms were obtained. Extensive multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations performed in the relativistic jj coupled basis were compared to the experimental photoelectron and Auger electron spectra.