The electronic states of cyclopropane studied by VUV absorption and electron energy-loss spectroscopies

Absolute optical (VUV) absorption cross sections for cyclopropane have been measured from 5.0 to 11.2 and 20-40 eV using synchrotron radiation. Also, electron energy-loss (EEL) spectra have been obtained using incident electrons of (a) 150 eV energy scattered through small angles (energy loss 5.0-15 eV) and (b) near-threshold energies scattered through large angles (energy loss 0-10.5 eV). Taken together these confirm that the low-lying excited electronic states of cyclopropane are of Rydberg type and, although spectral bands are diffuse, a known Rydberg series has been extended. Recent computations (Galasso V 1996 Chem. Phys. 206 289) appear to give a good account of the experimental spectrum from threshold to about 11 eV, but these must be extended if valence-excited states are to be characterized. Particular attention has been directed at the evaluation of absolute optical cross sections. These are now believed to be established over the energy ranges 5-15 and 20-40 eV. In the gap region (15-20 eV) second-order radiation may affect the optical measurements. From consideration of second-order effects, and comparison of the present studies with earlier measurements, we propose a best-estimate cross section in this energy region also. © 1999 IOP Publishing Ltd.