Dipole excitation, ionization and fragmentation of N₂ and CO in the 10-60 eV region

Dipole oscillator strengths for absorption and for formation of parent and fragment ions of N₂ and CO in the energy range of 10-60 eV have been obtained, using techniques of energy-loss electron spectroscopy and electron-ion coincidence. A quantitative collection has been made of the fragment ions regardless of their initial kinetic energy. An analysis of the data, leads to partial oscillator strengths for a variety of dissociative processes involving excitations of two-electron states and deep valence-shell states. In addition, the branching of some of these dissociative states of CO⁺ over the various fragmentation channels is reported. Evidence is presented for the validity of the 'shake-up' model which has been used in calculating relative intensities of the C² Sigma ⁺ states with respect to those of the B² Sigma ⁺ states of the two molecules.