Soft X-Ray Absorption Spectra of Some Metal Chlorides

Abstract

The Cl⁻L₂₃ absorption spectra of thin films of CuCl, ZnCl₂, CdCl₂, PbCl₂, MnCl₂, FeCl₂, CoCl₂, NiCl₂, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂, and BaCl₂ have been measured by the photographic method using synchrotron radiation from a 1.3 Bev electron synchrotron as a soft X-ray source. In all materials studied, other than CaCl₂, SrCl₂, and BaCl₂, the absorption spectra near the threshold show absorption bands probably due to the creation of excitons with holes in the 2p level of chlorine. The intense and broad absorption continuum beginning around 211 eV is observed in all materials studied. This absorption is assigned to the atomic excitation of Cl⁻ ions. Discussion is given about the profile of each spectrum.