Interatomic Auger transitions in transition-metal oxides

Interatomic ${L}_{3}(M){M}_{23}(M)V(O)$ and ${L}_{3}(M)V(O)V(O)$ Auger transitions of some transition-metal oxides are reported for the first time. The interatomic mode of decay becomes progressively more dominant (relative to the intra-atomic mode) as the metal $d$ level gets depleted or as the oxidation state of the metal increases. The usefulness of interatomic Auger transitions in studying oxidation of metals has been examined.