Auger electron spectra and Auger yields of free argon clusters in the Ar(2p) excitation regime are reported. The Auger yield spectra show characteristic changes as a function of cluster size. The results indicate that the Auger yield signal originates primarily from the surface of the clusters. The results are compared to bulk‐sensitive experimental techniques, such as total electron yields (TEY), zero kinetic energy electron (ZEKE) spectra for variable size clusters, as well as Auger yield spectra of condensed argon multilayers. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.