Vibrationally Resolved Inner-Shell Photoexcitation of the Molecular Anion C$_2^-$

Abstract

Carbon $1s$ core-hole excitation of the molecular anion C$_2^-$ has been experimentally studied at high resolution by employing the photon-ion merged-beams technique at a synchrotron light source. The experimental cross section for photo--double-detachment shows a pronounced vibrational structure associated with $1σ_u\to3σ_g$ and $1σ_g \to 1π_u$ core excitations of the C$_2^-$ ground level and first excited level, respectively. A detailed Franck-Condon analysis reveals a strong contraction of the C$_2^-$ molecular anion by 0.2~Å upon this core photoexcitation. The associated change of the molecule's moment of inertia leads to a noticeable rotational broadening of the observed vibrational spectral features. This broadening is accounted for in the present analysis which provides the spectroscopic parameters of the C$_2^-$ $1σ_u^{-1}\,3σ_g^2\;{^2}Σ_u^+$ and $1σ_g^{-1}\,3σ_g^2\;{^2}Σ_g^+$ core-excited levels.