AUGER DECAY OF CORE-EXCITED HIGHER RYDBERG STATES OF CARBON-MONOXIDE

The de-excitation of higher core-excited C 1s(-1)np Rydberg states of carbon monoxide has been studied. It is found that already with a main quantum number of 4 or higher, Rydberg states of p-symmetry can be su ccessfully treated within the single-particle hydrogenic model for bot h the core-excited and the final states. From a study of the binding e nergy of the Rydberg electron in the final state versus the core-excit ed state, the importance of relaxation in the core-excited intermediat e state is shown. Also, for core-excited Rydberg states with main quan tum number of 5 or higher, an almost total quenching of strict spectat or lines in the de-excitation spectra is observed.