Spectator excitation accompanying radiative decay in atoms: a quantum defect model

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Abstract
A simple method, based on the sudden approximation, is presented for estimating the probabilities of shake-up, shake-down and shake-off of a spectator Rydberg electron during radiative decay. An analytic model for the relevant matrix elements is developed using quantum defect theory. This model, which depends on a few easily calculable parameters, is needed to extend Hartree-Fock numerical calculations, and is useful in predicting behaviour in the limit of large initial-state excitation. In this limit the probability of shake-up/down is shown to tend to a constant, as is the probability of no-shake. In this same limit, the probability of shake-off is shown to approach zero. The specific case of the Ne(1s)np(1P) to (2p)xp(1P) radiative transition is calculated, where x represents any bound (shake-up/down) or continuum (shake-off) final-state orbital.
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