Symmetry breaking in core-valence double ionisation of allene

Allene serves as a model to study multiple ionization of organic molecules. Here, the authors use synchrotron radiation-based multi-particle coincidence techniques and high-level ab initio calculations to propose a simple physical model to elucidate the symmetry breaking in core-valence double ionization of allene. Conventional electron spectroscopy is an established one-electron-at-the-time method for revealing the electronic structure and dynamics of either valence or inner shell ionized systems. By combining an electron-electron coincidence technique with the use of soft X-radiation we have measured a double ionisation spectrum of the allene molecule in which one electron is removed from a C1s core orbital and one from a valence orbital, well beyond Siegbahns Electron-Spectroscopy-for-Chemical-Analysis method. This core-valence double ionisation spectrum shows the effect of symmetry breaking in an extraordinary way, when the core electron is ejected from one of the two outer carbon atoms. To explain the spectrum we present a new theoretical approach combining the benefits of a full self-consistent field approach with those of perturbation methods and multi-configurational techniques, thus establishing a powerful tool to reveal molecular orbital symmetry breaking on such an organic molecule, going beyond Lowdins standard definition of electron correlation.

Automated summary

In this study, the authors propose a simple physical model to explain symmetry breaking in the core-valence double ionization of allene using synchrotron radiation-based multi-particle coincidence techniques and high-level ab initio calculations. By combining electron-electron coincidence techniques and soft X-radiation, they measured a double ionization spectrum of the allene molecule, revealing the effect of symmetry breaking in an extraordinary way. To understand this spectrum, they developed a new theoretical approach combining self-consistent field methods, perturbation methods, and multi-configurational techniques.