Evolution of L -shell photoabsorption of the molecular-ion series SiHn+ ( n=1,2,3 ): Experimental and theoretical studies

We report on complementary laboratory and theoretical investigations of the $2p$ photoexcitation cross sections for the molecular-ion series $\mathrm{Si}{{\mathrm{H}}_{n}}^{+}$ ($n=1,2,3$) near the $L$-shell threshold. The experiments used an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma molecular-ion source coupled with monochromatized synchrotron radiation in a merged-beam configuration. For all three molecular ions, the $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{i}}^{2+}$ decay channel appeared dominant, suggesting similar electronic and nuclear relaxation patterns involving resonant Auger and dissociation processes, respectively. The total yields of the $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{i}}^{2+}$ products were recorded and put on absolute cross-section scales by comparison with the spectrum of the $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{i}}^{+}$ parent atomic ion. Interpretation of the experimental spectra ensued from a comparison with total photoabsorption cross-sectional profiles calculated using ab initio configuration interaction theoretical methods inclusive of vibrational dynamics and contributions from inner-shell excitations in both ground and valence-excited electronic states. The spectra, while broadly similar for all three molecular ions, moved towards lower energies as the number of screening hydrogen atoms increased from one to three. They featured a wide and shallow region below $\ensuremath{\sim}107\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ due to $2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{*}$ transitions to dissociative states, and intense and broadened peaks in the $\ensuremath{\sim}107--113\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{eV}$ region merging into sharp Rydberg series due to $2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n\ensuremath{\delta},n\ensuremath{\pi}$ transitions converging on the ${L}_{\mathrm{II},\mathrm{III}}$ limits above $\ensuremath{\sim}113\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. This overall spectral shape is broadly replicated by theory in each case, but the level of agreement does not extend to individual resonance structures. In addition to the fundamental interest, the work should also prove useful for the understanding and modeling of astronomical and laboratory plasma sources where silicon hydride molecular species play significant roles.