Energy calibration and peak shifts of Ni3Fe Auger spectra

Abstract

A method of energy calibration of Auger spectra taken with a cylindrical-mirror-type energy analyser (c.m.a.) is proposed and applied to the spectra of Ni and Ni₃Fe single-crystal surfaces. Energy shifts of Auger peaks caused by a change in the distance between the c.m.a. and the specimen have been calibrated by performing a regression calculation on the observed energy values of the Auger peaks. Auger spectra of the Ni₃Fe single crystal recorded in the derivative mode [d N(E)/d E] exhibit peak shifts of the Fe LMM Auger lines to the high-energy side. This is due to the changes in distribution of the Fe 2p electron population which are produced by a lattice situation, such as a host–guest lattice of host Ni with 25% guest Fe.