VUV excitation and electronic decay of rubidium halide molecules

Abstract

Previously we reported an interionic Auger decay following the VUV resonant excitations of the metal atom in the alkali halide molecules. Opening and closing of the spectator Auger decay channel was found to strongly influence the lineshape of the participator decay transitions, an effect attributed to the changes in the lifetime of the VUV-excited state. In this work, the VUV excitation and the following electronic decay of the resonant states of rubidium halides is studied. A series of electron spectra have been measured at photon energies around the 4p → nl resonance excitation region. Experimental results and the theoretical modelling of the excitation and decay spectra are presented.