Intra-atomic versus interatomic process in resonant Auger spectra at the Ti $L_{23}$ edges in rutile

The two components of the Ti $L_{23}{M}_{23}V$ Auger transition recorded on a stoichiometric rutile crystal are identified as $L_2{M}_{23}V$ and $L_3{M}_{23}V$ contributions. This assignment is evidenced by concordant data relative to resonances of the LMV decay at the Ti $L_{23}$ thresholds and to Auger emission recorded in coincidence with the $2_{1/2}$ and $2_{3/2}$ photoemission at a photon energy far above the Ti $L_{23}$ edges. The $L_3{M}_{23}V$ transition is shown to follow either the direct photoexcitation of a $2_{3/2}$ electron or the fast Coster-Kronig decay of a $2_{1/2}$ photohole. Although specific LMV contributions related to valence orbitals are identified, the long-suggested dual description of the $L_{23}{M}_{23}V$ Auger line as intra-atomic and interatomic transitions are discarded.