Vibrationally resolved resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering spectra of free molecules

Abstract

The brilliance of modern synchrotron radiation sources and capabilities of new instrumentation facilitate molecular resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering with high spectral quality. Especially, energy resolution of vibrational fine structure allows for a detailed analysis, providing information about the dynamic coupling between nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom. After a brief historical account and a short qualitative comparison between the radiative and non-radiative decay channels we review the recent results for the oxygen molecule. Nuclear wavepacket dynamics in bound and unbound states is studied, and in the latter case spatial quantum beats are observed as the dissociation proceeds via two different electronic states. A new internal spin-coupling conservation rule is established, whereas a commonly accepted selection rule based on orbital symmetry is violated.