The character of the Xe 4p -> nl resonances studied with the aid of their Auger decay

Theoretical predictions for the Xe 4p --> nl photoexcitation are shown to d epend strongly on the gauge and wavefunctions used in calculations. In orde r to test the theory, the resonant Auger decay of the Xe 4p(-1)nl states ha s been measured with high photon and electron energy resolution using the F innish beamline at MAX-lab in Lund. Sweden. The character of the 4p(-1)nl e xcited states is investigated by comparing the observed intensity distribut ions of the transitions to the 4d-15p(-1)nl states with the results of mult iconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations. As the fine structure of resonant A uger transitions is sensitive to the nature of the spectator electron, the spectra are useful for the assignment of the resonant photoabsorption peaks which do not show any characteristics of the excited electron.