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The core-level photoelectron spectra of N2 molecules are observed at high energy resolution, resolving the 1σg and 1σu components as well as the vibrational components in the extended energy region from the threshold up to 1 keV. The σg/σu cross section ratios display modulation as a function of photoelectron momentum due to the two-centre interference, analogous to the classical Young's double-slit experiment, as predicted by Cohen and Fano a long time ago. The Cohen–Fano interference modulations display different phases depending on the vibrational excitations in the core-ionized state. Extensive ab initio calculations have been performed within the Hartree–Fock and random phase approximations in prolate spheroidal coordinates. The dependence of photoionization amplitudes on the vibrational states was taken into account using the Born–Oppenheimer approximation. The ab initio results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The theoretical analysis allows the modulation to be connected with the onset of transitions to the states of increasing orbital angular momentum which occurs at increasing photon energies. Deviation from the Cohen–Fano formula is found for both the experimental and the ab initio results and is attributed to electron scattering by the neighbouring atom. A new formula for the interference modulation is derived within the framework of the multiple scattering technique. It differs from the classical Cohen–Fano formula by the addition of twice the scattering phase of the photoelectron by the neighbouring atom. We demonstrate that one can measure directly the scattering phase by fitting our formula to the experimental results.

The authors report absolute differential and integral cross section measurements for electron-impact excitation of the ÃB11 electronic state of water. This is an important channel for the production of the OH (X̃Π2) radical, as well as for understanding the origin of the atmospheric Meinel [Astrophys. J. 111, 555 (1950)] bands. The incident energy range of our measurements is 20–200eV, while the angular range of the differential cross section data is 3.5°–90°. This is the first time such data are reported in the literature and, where possible, comparison to existing theoretical work, and new scaled Born cross sections calculated as a part of the current study, is made. The scaled Born cross sections are in good agreement with the integral cross sections deduced from the experimental differential cross sections. In addition they report (experimental) generalized oscillator strength data at the incident energies of 100 and 200eV. These data are used to derive a value for the optical oscillator strength which is found to be in excellent agreement with that from an earlier dipole (e,e) experiment and an earlier photoabsorption experiment.

The authors have developed a method to produce a microbeam of slow highly charged ions based on a self-organized charge-up inside a tapered glass capillary. A transmission of 8 keV Ar 8+ beam through the capillary 5 cm long with 800/ 24 m inlet/outlet inner diameters was observed stably for more than 1200 s. The transmitted beam had the same size as the outlet with a beam density enhancement of approximately 10 and a divergence of ±5 mrad. The initial beam was guided through a capillary tilted by as large as ±100 mrad, and it still kept the incident charge.

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