A mechanism of angular-momentum transfer between photoelectrons and Auger electrons is applied to Auger electron emission in process of photoionization of deep inner atomic shells followed by Auger decay. This mechanism proofs to be the leading contribution to distortion of angular distribution of the Auger electrons and highlights important features of postcollision interaction effect in the inner shells photoionization. The theory developed is applied to the photoionization of $n{s}^2$ shells of noble gases. Calculations show the noticeable influence of angular-momentum transfer on the Auger-electron angular distribution in a number of cases. Photoionization processes suitable for experimental observation of the proposed effect are discussed.

• Received 22 December 2020
• Accepted 22 February 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.103.032807