Auger electrons

Auger electrons are a type of secondary electron emitted from atoms when an inner-shell electron is ejected, usually by the absorption of X-ray or gamma radiation. When this occurs, the atom becomes unstable, and another electron from a higher energy level drops to fill the vacancy. This energy release can kick out an outer electron, known as the Auger electron. The process is significant in fields like materials science and surface chemistry, as Auger electrons can provide information about the elemental composition and electronic structure of materials.