Competition between decay and dissociation of core-excited carbonyl sulfide studied by x-ray scattering

We show evidence of dissociation during resonant inelastic soft x-ray scatt ering Carbon and oxygen K-shell and sulfur L-shell resonant and nonresonant x-ray emission spectra were measured using monochromatic synchrotron radia tion for excitation and ionization. After sulfur L-2,L-3-->pi*, sigma* exci tation, atomic lines are observed in the emission spectra as a consequence of competition between de-excitation and dissociation. In contrast thr carb on and oxygen spectra show weaker line-shape variations and no atomic Lines . The spectra are compared to results from ab initio calculations. The disc ussion of the dissociation paths is based on calculated potential energy su rfaces and atomic transition energies. [S1050-2947(99)03006-1].