Partial-wave decomposition of the ionization continuum accessed by vibrational autoionization of the NO 14s ( nu = 1, N = 20, N(+)(R) = 20) level

Rotationally resolved photoelectron angular distributions from vibrational autoionization of the NO 14s ( nu = 1, N = 20, N(+)(R) = 20) level are measured by photoelectron spectroscopy, and they are analyzed using a theoretical model based on first-order coupling between the Rydberg level and the ionization continuum. The analysis reveals that lambda-changing collisions and l-changing collisions between the molecular-ion core and the outgoing electron are comparable in magnitude and account for 40% of the partial waves produced in the ionization continuum.