In this paper, we report the photoabsorption and the constant ionic state s
pectroscopy of vinyl bromide (C2H3Br). The photoabsorption spectrum was mea
sured using synchrotron radiation and was investigated in detail between 5.
0 and 12.0 eV photon energy revealing many previously unobserved structures
. These features were analyzed in terms of valence to virtual valence trans
itions and Rydberg series. The examination of the three Rydberg series conv
erging towards the first ionization threshold (2a" --> ns, 2a" --> np and 2
a" -->nd) leads to wave numbers of 335 +/- 30, 690 +/- 30 and 1305 +/- 30 c
m(-1). The vibrational wave numbers of the progressions belonging to Rydber
g series converging towards the second ionization threshold are 485 +/- 30
and 1145 +/- 50 cm(-1). Ab initio calculations helped the assignment of the
valence transitions and of the observed vibrational wave numbers in the Ry
dberg series.
Constant ionic state spectra were recorded for vibronic states correspondin
g to the first and the second electronic states of the ion. Their fine stru
ctures are assigned to the autoionization of Rydberg states. The autoioniza
tion decay of these Rydberg states is analyzed qualitatively in terms of th
e vibrational nature of the final ionic state. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.
V. All rights reserved.