Question

What are auger electrons?

Answer 1

Hint :As we know that the absorption of an inner atomic electron takes place through a proton rich nucleus of an electrically neutral atom. The process in which absorption of an inner atomic electron takes place through a proton rich nucleus of an electrically neutral atom. This process is named as electron capture.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
This auger electrons process is named as electron capture. If we talk about the reaction that takes place in electron capture, then theoretically it can be explained as one of the electrons of an atom that is an incoming electron gets absorbed and the right hand side reaction will have less number of electrons as compared to the left hand side reaction.
Auger electrons are electrons that are emitted when an electron from a higher energy level falls into a vacancy in an inner shell. The process usually occurs when the atom is bombarded with high energy electrons. If the collision ejects an inner-shell electron, an electron from a higher level will quickly drop to this lower level to fill the vacancy.
But sometimes the energy is transferred to another electron, which is ejected from the atom. This second ejected electron is called an Auger electron, after one of its discoverers, the French physicist Pierre Auger
Electron capture is also defined as the primary decay mode for isotopes with a relative superabundance of protons in the nucleus. Electron capture is a decay which occurs with insufficient difference between the isotope and its prospective isobar having one less positive charge for the nuclide to decay by emitting a positron. Due to the basic nuclear process which is done by the weak force. If we talk about the decay in nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta ray (fast energetic electron or positron) and a neutrino are emitted from an atomic nucleus. Electron capture is sometimes called inverse beta decay, though this term usually refers to the interaction of an electron.

Note :
Electron capture can be stated as an alternative decay mode for radioactive isotopes which possess enough energy to decay by positron emission. Sometimes electron capture is considered as a type of beta decay.