THE ANGULAR-DISTRIBUTION OF AUGER TRANSITIONS IN N-2

The angular distributions of Auger electrons emitted by nitrogen molecules are reported. The distributions are measured relative to the orientation of the internuclear axis of the molecule. The initial inner-shell vacancies are produced by bombardment with 1634 eV electrons. The ensuing Auger transitions are followed promptly by the dissociation of the doubly charged molecular ions. The experiment measures the counting rate for the coincident detection of an Nf fragment and an Auger electron of the appropriate energy. Since rotation times are long compared to dissociation times, the axial recoil approximation holds, and detection of the Nf fragment serves to determine the orientation of the target molecule. The data will be discussed in terms of a two-center model in which prolate spheroidal functions are employed.