Valence electronic structure of CH3Br and CH3I: Electron momentum distributions and separation energies

Bromomethane (CH₃Br) and iodomethane (CH₃I) have been studied by binary (e,2e) coincidence spectroscopy at 1200 eV using non-coplanar symmetric kinematics. Separation energy spectra have been determined in the energy range up to 47 eV at azimuthal angles of 0° and 8° for CH₃Br and 0° and 6° for CH₃I. The separation energy spectra and the electron momentum distributions measured for each of the valence orbitals are compared with theoretical predictions employing SCF wavefunctions and outer valence type and extended 2 ph-TDA Green function calculations. Electron density and momentum density maps have been calculated for all the valence orbitals using the SCF wavefunctions, and they are used to explain trends and contrasts in the electronic structure and bonding properties of these halomethanes in both position and momentum space.