Auger decay of the 1s -> np (n=2-6) resonances in beryllium

We studied the decay channels of the photon-excited 1s2s(2)np(P-1) (n = 2-6 ) resonances in Be. We confirmed the predominant decay modes for n = 2, 3 f ound previously by Caldwell et al (1990 Phys. Rev. A 41 542). The decay mod es of the higher resonances are admixtures of np' ionic states, with n > 2. Evidence for strong shake up and shake down was found. Very good agreement was found with the 'shake' model, which predicts the relative intensities of the exit channels in terms of the projections of the excited electron wa vefunctions onto the ionic electron wavefunctions.