Symmetry-forbidden electronic state interference observed in angularly resolved NO+ (A 1Π) deexcitation spectra of the N*O(2σ(-1)2π(2)) resonance.

ABSTRACT

Quantum mechanical interference between different pathways in inner-shell resonance excitation-deexcitation spectra is a realization of a double-slit experiment on the atomic scale. If the intermediate inner-shell resonances are of different symmetries, this interference is symmetry forbidden in the solid-angle-averaged or magic-angle-recorded deexcitation spectra. It has, however, been suggested that interference may by observable in off-magic-angle-recorded spectra. Here, we prove this interference in angularly resolved deexcitation spectra of the 2σ(-1)2π(2)(2Δ,2Σ±) resonances of N*O by a quantitative comparison between ab initio calculations and experiment.