Measurement and ab initio calculation of the Ne photoabsorption spectrum in the region of the K edge

The Ne photoabsorption spectrum in the region of the K edge has been measur ed with unprecedented energy resolution. The results have been interpreted by using an ab initio method that predicts natural linewidths, as well as r elative intensities and positions of the different 1s --> np (3 less than o r equal to n less than or equal to 6) transitions. The remarkable agreement between theory and experiment improves the spectroscopic characterization of these inner-shell excited states in an energy region where only electron -energy-loss spectroscopies were considered to provide accurate and high-re solution data. [S1050-2947(99)09002-2].