Excitation and decay spectra of core-excited resonances in acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acetone

Monochromatic synchrotron radiation was used to selectively excite core ele ctrons of the carbon and oxygen atoms in acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acetone, creating neutral core-excited resonance states. Electron energy sp ectra associated with autoionization of the strong resonances in these mole cules were collected. The character of each resonance state was deduced fro m its decay spectrum. Among other conclusions, this analysis suggests that the highest-energy intense carbon core-excited resonance in acetaldehyde ar ises from excitation of two degenerate core-excited starts, one with the co re-hole sire located on the carbonyl carbon and the other with the core-hol e site located on the alkyl carbon.