Auger effect

The Auger effect is a process that occurs in atoms when an inner electron is ejected, usually by absorbing energy. This creates a vacancy in the electron shell, and another electron from a higher energy level falls into that empty spot. This transition releases energy, which can be transferred to a nearby electron, causing it to be ejected from the atom instead. The result is the loss of two electrons from the atom without the release of photons, leading to changes in the atom's charge and energy states. It is important in fields like materials science and surface analysis.