Disentangling the Photodissociation Dynamics of the HF⁺ Molecular Radical via Kinetic-Energy-Release-Resolved F 1s Core Excitation and Ionization

Abstract

The F 1s core level photoionization of the ionic molecular radical HF⁺ has been studied using the photon-ion merged-beams technique at a synchrotron radiation source. Upon analyzing kinetic energy release (KER) dependent photoion yield spectra, complex ultrafast dissociation dynamics of the F 1s core hole excited σ* state can be revealed. By means of configuration-interaction electronic structure calculations of the excited molecular potential energy curves, this complex process can be attributed to a spin-dependent dissociation of the excited σ* biradical state.