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In this paper, we examine decay and fragmentation of core-excited and core-ionized water molecules combining quantum chemical calculations and electron-energy-resolved electron–ion coincidence spectroscopy. The experimental technique allows us to connect electronic decay from core-excited states, electronic transitions between ionic states, and dissociation of the molecular ion. To this end, we calculate the minimum energy dissociation path of the core-excited molecule and the potential energy surfaces of the molecular ion. Our measurements highlight the role of ultra-fast nuclear motion in the 1a1−14a1" role="presentation" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">1a−114a11a1−14a1 core-excited molecule in the production of fragment ions. OH+ fragments dominate for spectator Auger decay. Complete atomization after sequential fragmentation is also evident through detection of slow H+ fragments. Additional measurements of the non-resonant Auger decay of the core-ionized molecule (1a1−1" role="presentation" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">1a−111a1−1) to the lower-energy dication states show that the formation of the OH+ + H+ ion pair dominates, whereas sequential fragmentation OH+ + H+ → O + H+ + H+ is observed for transitions to higher dication states, supporting previous theoretical investigations.

In this paper, we examine decay and fragmentation of core-excited and core-ionized water molecules combining quantum chemical calculations and electron-energy-resolved electron–ion coincidence spectroscopy. The experimental technique allows us to connect electronic decay from core-excited states, electronic transitions between ionic states, and dissociation of the molecular ion. To this end, we calculate the minimum energy dissociation path of the core-excited molecule and the potential energy surfaces of the molecular ion. Our measurements highlight the role of ultra-fast nuclear motion in the 1a1−14a1" role="presentation" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">1a−114a11a1−14a1 core-excited molecule in the production of fragment ions. OH+ fragments dominate for spectator Auger decay. Complete atomization after sequential fragmentation is also evident through detection of slow H+ fragments. Additional measurements of the non-resonant Auger decay of the core-ionized molecule (1a1−1" role="presentation" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">1a−111a1−1) to the lower-energy dication states show that the formation of the OH+ + H+ ion pair dominates, whereas sequential fragmentation OH+ + H+ → O + H+ + H+ is observed for transitions to higher dication states, supporting previous theoretical investigations.