L-Shell Photon Excitation Cross Sections for the Chlorine Isonuclear Sequence Clq+ (q=1−4): An Experimental Study

We report experimental measurements of the absolute photoionization cross sections for chlorine ions in different stages of ionization, over photon energy ranges corresponding to the L-shell (2s and 2p subshells) excitations. Single, double and triple photoionization channels were investigated for the ions Cl+, Cl2+, Cl3+ and Cl4+. The measurements were performed on the PLéIADES beamline at the SOLEIL radiation storage ring facility, using the Multi-Analysis Ion Apparatus (MAIA). Resonance energies and line strengths are provided for the isonuclear sequence and the evolution of the inner shell photoionization behaviour is demonstrated for the chlorine ions as the degree of ionization is increased. While dominated by photoionization from the corresponding ground state ions, the photoion yields may also contain contributions from low-lying metastable states. The results provide useful data on these ions for plasma modelling and can serve as benchmarking experimental data for future atomic theoretical calculations.