Inner valence states, double effect

The prototypical indirect double photoionization process is the classical Auger effect, where the single-hole state created by ejection of an inner-shell electron exists for a significant time before ejection of a second electron. Alternatively, an intermediate singly charged state may exist as a multiply excited valence state or a Rydberg state, but whatever its nature, a lifetime of at least a few femtoseconds will normally allow the whole process to be considered as a sequence of two distinct steps. A sharp peak in the photoelectron spectrum and also, therefore, in... 

Figure 21. The inner valence Auger effect in formaldehyde (methanal). The broad peak in the regular photoelectron spectrum near 34 eV is an inner valence (IV) band based on C2s ] ionization. It recurs as a peak in the electron distribution for double photoionization and in the quantum yield. The uppermost curve shows the spectrum of HCH02+, where the ground state is strongly populated by this effect. 

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