Abstract
Inner-shell ionization of atoms, molecules, and clusters often leads to creation of highly excited ionic states that are embedded into double (or even multiple) ionization continua and decay by electron emission. The most common electronic decay process triggered by core ionization is known as Auger effect.
The dynamics of the Auger decay is usually assumed to be exponential, and the process is characterized by a decay rate. The advent of the high-intensity x-ray free-electron lasers and their envisaged applications in molecular imaging have made it necessary to consider Auger-type processes in polyatomic systems under conditions of multiple ionization, both in the core and in the valence shells.
Here, we review our recent theoretical work on the theory of electronic decay in multiply charged molecules and clusters. Particular attention is given to the effects of the spectator vacancies on the Auger decay rates, trapping of the Auger electron in a multiply charged system, and collective decay of two vacancies.