A critical comparison of selected 1s and 2p core hole widths

The linewidths of a series of core excited atoms and small molecules have been measured in photoabsorption with ultra high resolution. The widths of transitions to the antibonding ? and Rydberg states from the SF6 1s levels of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in CO, CO2, N2, N2O and O2 were measured. In addition the Ne 1s, Ar 2p and sulphur 2p Rydberg states of SF6 have been measured. The lifetime widths of this range of chemical states and neutral excited states are compared critically with values from the literature derived from x-ray absorption and other spectroscopies.