Photoautoionization structure in the halogen systems Br2, I2, BrCl, ICl, and IBr
The photoabsorption ion-yield spectra of the titled molecules have been recorded in the threshold ionization region between the two spin-orbit components of the ground states of the molecular ions. All ion-yield spectra display rather simple autoionization structure superimposed on a smoothly rising continuum in the ionization energy region. The structure was analyzed in terms of autoionizing Rydberg states and their vibrational profiles simulated using Rydberg–Klein–Rees (RKR) derived potential energy curves and calculated Franck–Condon factors using Gaussian line-shape functions. All of the structure observed is attributed to spin-orbit autoionization. There seems to be a propensity for autoionization of sσ Rydberg states in all of the interhalogen molecules studied.