Photoabsorption cross section and radiative processes of GeCl4 in the valence region of 6–31 eV

Photoabsorption cross section and emission excitation functions of GeCl4 have been measured in the valence region of 6–31 eV by using synchrotron radiation. The observed bands have been assigned to the (4s, 4d, and np) ← 3t2, (4s and np) ← 1e, and (4s and 4p) ← 2t2 Rydberg series where n = 4–6. Strong emissions have been observed for the C̃ 2T2 → X̃ 2T1 and C̃ 2T2 → Ã 2T2 transitions of the GeCl4+ ion and the GeCl2(3B1 → X̃ 1A1) radical. Weak fluorescence from GeCl2(Ã 1B1 → X̃ 1A1) has also been observed. Absolute total emission cross section was obtained as 23.1 ± 0.8 Mb at hv = 21.22 eV and the ionization potential of the 2t2 molecular orbital has been determined to be 14.65 ± 0.08 eV.