High-Resolution K-edge spectroscopy of oxygen transient species: the metastable O2 1-DELTA-g molecule and O (3P) atom

The K-edge photoionization spectra of metastable O (a D ) molecules and O ( P) atoms have been investigated at high 2 g 1 resolution. Both species were prepared on-line using a microwave discharge. For the molecule the transition to the p* P state has been identified below the ionization threshold, using total-ion-yield spectroscopy. Above the edge the previously 2 1 unobserved D state of the O core-hole ion has been located by photoelectron spectroscopy. The results provide a link 2 between the singlet and triplet manifolds of the core excited states of the oxygen molecule. The 1s excited states of the oxygen atom were also studied. The high resolution allowed the characterization of higher members of the Rydberg series and first linewidth measurements for those transitions.