Evidence of radiative charge transfer in argon dimers

Auger electron spectra recorded in coincidence with two Ar+ ions produced from Ar-2(2+) suggest that the bound one-site two-hole state, Ar2+ (3p(-2))-Ar, decays further only via radiative charge transfer to the dissociative two-site two-hole states Ar+ (3p(-1))-Ar+-(3p(-1)). The measured kinetic energy release of Ar-2(2+) agrees well with the theoretical estimate based on this process. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.