$L_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}$ and $L_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}{N}_1$ Auger spectra of free potassium atoms

High-resolution $L_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}$ and $L_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}{N}_1$ Auger-electron spectra from potassium vapor have been measured using electron-beam excitation. The spectra have been analyzed with the aid of the optically known energy levels of the $3p^{4}4s$ and $3p^5$ final-state configurations. The relative intensities of lines in the $L_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}{M}_{2,3}$ spectra are found to correspond very well to the intensities of the $3p^4$ parent Auger lines calculated in a mixed-coupling scheme. The separation of the $3p^4{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P$ parent lines into the $3p^4\left({}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P\right)4s{}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}P$ and $3p^4\left({}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P\right)4s{}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}P$ lines yields relative intensities which agree quite well with the statistical weight of these states. For the $2p_{\frac{1}{2}}$ and $2p_{\frac{3}{2}}$ binding energies in atomic potassium 303.6±0.1 and 300.7±0.1 eV, respectively, have been obtained.