Vis-UV fluorescence studies of fragments resulting from the relaxation of molecular core hole states

The absorption of soft x-ray radiation induces neutral and ionic core hole states in molecules. The relaxation of such states typically leads to a multi-step process, at the end of which photons in the visible and UV range can also be emitted from fragments. In this paper, we present results on Balmer and Lyman emission that originates from excited H atoms produced at the K-edge of the water, ammonia and methane molecules. Dissociation pathways leading to fluorescence emission are discussed.