Abstract
Inner-shell excitation of molecular chlorine has been studied by the electron energy-loss technique, at an incident electron energy of 1.5 keV and with an energy resolution of 65 meV. Excitation energies of states in the vicinity of the L2,3 ionisation edges have been accurately determined. Two series of states have been observed, and their relative energy separation and transition strength show that the inner-shell vacancy is localised at one of the chlorine atoms. Information about the 'equivalent-core' molecule ArCl has been deduced from these results.