Determination of intramolecular bond lengths in gas phase molecules from K shell shape resonances

A systematic analysis of K shell excitation spectra of gas phase molecules containing B, C, N, O, and F reveals a correlation between the position of a characteristic K shell excitation feature, the σ shape resonance, and the intramolecular bond length. When referenced to the 1s ionization threshold the position of the σ shape resonance is found to vary linearly with the internuclear distance between the pair of atoms which gives rise to the scattering resonance. This linear relationship holds remarkably well within different classes of molecules characterized by the total number of electrons (sum of atomic numbers) for a given pair of atoms. The empirically derived rules are compared with the predictions of a full multiple scattering theory treatment. Comparison of empirical experimental and first-principle theoretical results allows the prediction of the average intramolecular muffin tin potential in the presence of the core hole.