Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization photoelectron spectroscopy and pulsed field ionization via the F 1D2(v'=0) and f 3D2(v'=0) Rydberg states of HCl

In this paper, we report the first rotationally resolved one- and two-color resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization photoelectron spectroscopy (REMPI-PES) study of the HCl molecule. The agreement between our experimental branching ratios and theoretical investigations is excellent. We also report the first zero kinetic energy pulsed field ionization (ZEKE-PFI) experiments carried out in a "magnetic bottle'' electron spectrometer. A direct comparison is made between ZEKE-PFI and REMPI-PES spectra for ionization via several rotational levels of the F 12(v'=0) and f 32(v'=0) Rydberg states of HCl. Large differences in both the spin-orbit and rotational branching ratios are found between the ZEKE-PFI and REMPI-PES spectra. These differences can be understood qualitatively on the basis of rotational and spin-orbit autoionization mechanisms. The Journal of Chemical Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics.