Multi-Electron Coincidence Studies of Atoms and Molecules

This thesis concerns multi-ionization coincidence measurements of atoms and small molecules using a magnetic bottle time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometer designed for multi-electron coincidence studies. Also, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been used together with the TOF electron spectrometer for electron-ion coincidence measurements. The multi-ionization processes have been studied by employing a pulsed discharge lamp in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral region and synchrotron radiation in the soft X-ray region. The designs of the spectrometers are described in some detail, and several timing schemes suitable for the light sources mentioned above are presented. Studies have been performed on krypton, molecular oxygen, carbon disulfide and a series of alcohol molecules. For the latter, double ionization spectra have been recorded and new information has been obtained on the dicationic states. A recently found rule-of-thumb and quantum chemical calculations have been used to quantify the effective distance of the two vacancies in the dications of these molecules. For Kr, O2, and CS2, single-photon core-valence spectra have been obtained at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II in Berlin and interpreted on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. These spectra show a remarkable similarity to conventional valence photoelectron spectra. Spectra of triply charged ions were recorded, also at BESSY II, for Kr and CS2 by measuring, in coincidence, all three electrons ejected. The complex transition channels leading to tricationic states were mapped in substantial detail for Kr. It was found that for 3d-ionized krypton, the tricationic states are dominantly populated by cascade Auger decays via distinct intermediate states whose energies have been determined. The triple ionization spectra of CS2 from the direct double Auger effect via S2p, S2s and C1s hole states contain several resolved features and show selectivity based on the initial charge localisation and on the identity of the initial state