Geometrical information on core-excited states obtained from interference quenching of vibrational states in resonant x-ray photoemission

• An interference quenching of the m=1 final state vibrational line in the resonant Auger decay of N 1s-->pi(*) core-excited N-2 is observed and analyzed. The intensity ratio between the m=1 and m=0 vibrational levels of the X (2)Sigma(g)(+) final state shows a surprising nonmonotonic variation as a function of frequency detuning, going through a minimum with a complete suppression of m=1. We have developed a simple model which indicates a linear relation between the value of the detuning frequency for this minimum and the equilibrium bond distance of the core-excited state. This implies the possibility of determining the equilibrium bond distances for core-excited states to a high degree of accuracy. Simultaneously with the simple model we present a strict theory of the studied effect. This strict theory allows us to explore the accuracy of determining the bond length of the core-excited state from resonant Auger spectra. We obtain a weak influence of the core-hole lifetime on the determined bond length, whereas the number of intermediate vibrational states accounted for in the numerical simulations seems to be quite important.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

auger-spectra

raman

molecules

emission

decay

line

excitation

collapse

n-2

n2

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)