Resonant X-Ray Emission Spectroscopy of Molecular Oxygen

Abstract

Resonant soft x-ray emission spectroscopy has been applied to study the issue of symmetry breaking upon core-hole excitation in molecular oxygen. The results provide direct evidence that the inversion symmetry is not broken in the core-excited states. Furthermore, the experiments themselves demonstrate a new experimental technique of broad applicability for studies of electronic structure and excitation dynamics in free atoms and molecules.

Intramolecular Electron Scattering and Electron Transfer Following Autoionization in Dissociating Molecules

“…This intrinsic asymmetry with respect to emission into the inner and outer regions of the molecule explains asymmetric electron emission behavior in diatomic homonuclear molecules [12], which was for a long time not understood well, because it was in distinct contrast to results on the same subject obtained by soft x-ray experiments instead of electron emission [13]. Such energy resolved coincidence spectroscopy of intramolecular scattering processes has a great potential for time-dependent studies of dissociating molecular systems.…”

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the limit of subfemtosecond natural lifetime

“…Figure 4 shows the dispersion and the FWHM of the L 3 -N 4,5 emission line in CH 3 I and of the Cl K-L emission line in CH 3 Cl as a function of the incident photon energy detuning from the resonance. The error bars indicated on the graphs in Fig.…”

“…For example, it was demonstrated that a dynamical symmetry breaking in molecules occurring on the time scale of the core-hole lifetime can be studied due to the symmetry dependence of the x-ray emission intensities on the selection rules. 2,3 Polarization and anisotropy of x-ray emission can be used to study orbital components, bond directions, and molecular orbital symmetries. [4][5][6] Recently, molecular-field effects a) Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.…”

X-Ray Scattering and Fluorescence From Atoms and Molecules

“…For a two-photon process such as XRRS, the dipole selection rule requires that the final-state parity be the same as the initialstate parity. This parity selection rule has been confirmed 67,95,96 in the cases of XRRS spectra of N 2 and O 2 , for which the x-ray wavelengths are ª30 Å and ª23 Å, respectively, i.e., large compared with internuclear distances. Skytt et al 67,97 and Glans et al 96 discuss the case of C O 2 , which also has inversion symmetry.…”