Anisotropic dissociation of NO inK-shell excited states

The angular distributions of fragment ions produced from NO in N K-shell or O K-shell excited states have been measured with a rotatable time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The asymmetry parameter ({β}) derived from the measured angular distribution is -0.75 at 399.7 eV (N 1s{→}π*). The {β} parameter for transitions of the N 1s electron to Rydberg orbitals changes with the symmetry of the transitions. The {β} parameter shows a broad maximum around 415 eV due to a σ* shape resonance. The {β} parameter for O 1s excitation is similar to that for N 1s excitation.