Initiating Auger transitions using tunable monochromatic x rays from synchrotron, we show that the satellite intensities in $L_2$$M_{45}$$M_{45}$ and $L_3$$M_{45}$$M_{45}$ spectra of Cu and Zn increase with increasing photon energies up to about 200 eV above the thresholds. This indicates a pronounced influence of the history of the core-hole generation on Auger spectra, in sharp contrast to the universally accepted belief, and suggests a breakdown of the sudden approximation. Details of the photon energy dependence of the satellite intensity provide a new interpretation for the origin of the satellite.

• Received 29 November 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.63.656