Photoionization cross sections: Interpretation of band intensities in He I and He II photoelectron spectra

Relative photoionization cross sections of molecules consisting of atoms from the first three rows of the Periodic Table are computed by a theoretical method developed previously which involves the plane-wave approximation for the photoelectron and the use of semiempirical LCAO-SCF-MO's of the CNDO- or MINDO- type for the initial orbital. The calculated values are compared with experimental photoelectron band intensities obtained by integrating the band areas in He I and He II photoelectron spectra. The observed relative intensity changes of bands in the spectrum in going from He I to He II excitation are attributed to variations in the one- and/or two-centre contributions to the cross sections from the electron density at the atoms and in the bonds, respectively. The analysis of the relative intensities of bands in the He I and He II spectra thus leads to conclusions about the electron density distribution in the initial orbital and about the assignment of the bands.In a qualitative sense, the experimental He I/He II intensity changes are usually correctly predicted by our theoretical method, but there are often considerable quantitative discrepancies between the measured and calculated values which probably arise from the inherent simplifications of our approach.