Electronic excitation and optical cross sections of methylamine and ethylamine in the UV-VUV spectral region

High resolution UV-VUV photon absorption spectra of methylamine and ethylamine have been recorded between 5.0-9.0 eV (250-140 nm) using synchrotron radiation. In methylamine, the energies of the absorption bands are confirmed as centered at 5.7, 7.2, and 8.7 eV, respectively. In ethylamine the band centers are 5.8, 7.0, and 7.9 eV, respectively; the last band is seen here for the first time. Most of the transitions exhibit rich fine structure dominated by vibrational progressions involving excitation of an amino wagging vibration. The absolute photoabsorption oscillator strengths have been measured by photon absorption over the 5-9 eV range and by dipolar electron energy loss spectroscopy from 5-14 eV (250-90 nm). (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.