Photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the band structure of silver halides

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to probe the valence bands of the silver halides. Previous ultraviolet photoemission and optical absorption experiments together with the theoretical band structure calculations form the basis for interpretation of the spectra. Density of states maxima from the halogen p levels are clearly resolved from those of the silver 4d states. Additional splittings due to k space symmetry are observable and in the case of AgCl and AgBr, give excellent conformation of existing band structure calculations. The role of spin-orbit coupling is shown to be unimportant in determining the primary shape of the photoelectron spectrum. The spectrum of AgF shows the inversion of silver 4d and halogen 2p levels suggested by the optical absorption spectra and predicted by several recent band calculations. A new interpretation is proposed for the AgF optical spectrum in which the observed excitons are due to the forbidden Γ₁₂→ Γ₁ and Γ_25′ → Γ₁ tr the high temperature body centered cubic structure. These spectra clearly show the broadening of the I 5p levels which causes the band gap to decrease above the transition temperature.