Bond-length-dependent core hole localization observed in simple hydrocarbons

Soft x-ray-emission spectroscopy is applied to measure the amount of dynamic symmetry breaking in core-excited acetylene, ethylene, and ethane. Large variations are observed between the molecules and are rationalized in terms of the different C-C bond lengths: Shorter bond lengths give smaller symmetry breaking. The results also indicate that asymmetric modes are important for all the systems studied, in contradiction to previous assumptions in literature.