title: Rydberg-valence mixing in the carbon 1s near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of gaseous alkanes.
abstract: We have acquired high-resolution carbon 1s near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and neopentane. These experimental measurements are complemented by high-quality ab initio calculations, performed with the improved virtual orbital approximation. The degree and character of Rydberg-valence mixing in the preedge of the NEXAFS spectra of these species is explored. Significant Rydberg-valence mixing only occurs when there are excited states of valence sigma(C-H) character that have the appropriate symmetry to interact with excited states of Rydberg character. Our results show that this mixing is only present when there are C-H bonds to the core excited carbon atom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada. stephen.urquhart@usask.ca
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Urquhart
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gillies