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Absolute absorption and photoionization cross sections of methane have been measured with an accuracy of about 2 or 3 percent over most of the wavelength range from 950 to 110 A. Also, dissociative photoionization cross sections were measured for the production of CH4(+), CH3(+), CH2(+), CH(+), and C(+) from their respective thresholds to 159 A, and for H(+) and H2(+) measurements were made down to 240 A. Fragmentation was observed at all excited ionic states of CH4.

The absolute cross sections for the production of N(+) and N2(+) have been measured from the dissociative ionization threshold to 115 A. In addition, the absolute photoabsorption and photoionization cross sections are tabulated between 114 and 796 A. The ionization efficiencies are also given at several discrete wavelengths between 660 and 790 A. The production of N(+) fragment ions are discussed in terms of the doubly excited N2(+) states with binding energies in the range 24 to 44 eV.

The partial photoionization cross sections for producing the NO(+) parent ion and the O(+), N(+), and NO(2+) fragmentations from neutral NO are presented from 120 to 614 A. The results indicate predissociation of the 3 pi (21.72 eV) and B-prime 1Sigma(+) (22.73 eV) electronic states of NO(+). The photoionization threshold for double ionization was found to be 39.4 + or - 0.12 eV.

The absolute cross sections for the production of N(+) and N2(+) were measured from the dissociative ionization threshold of 115 A. In addition, the absolute photoabsorption and photoionization cross sections were tabulated between 114 and 796 A. The ionization efficiencies were also given at several discrete wave lengths between 660 and 790 A. The production of N(+) fragment ions are discussed in terms of the doubly excited N2(+) states with binding energies in the range of 24 to 44 eV.

The partial photoionization cross sections for producing the NO(+) parent ion and the O(+), N(+), and NO2(+) fragment ions from neutral NO are presented from 120 to 614 A. The results indicate predissociation of the c(sup3) pi (21.72 eV) and B prime (sup 1) sigma (+) (22.73 eV) electronic states of NO(+). The photoionization threshold for double ionization was found to be 39.4 + or 0.12 eV.

The dissociative photoionization cross sections for the production of C(+) ions are presented for the spectral region from the dissociative ionization threshold to 90 A. The cross sections are considerably larger than previously published data and should therefore influence the calculations of the C(+) concentrations in the Mars and Venus ionospheres. It is suggested that the released energy in the C(+) fragment ion could reduce the loss rate of the ions in collisional processes, thereby accounting for the apparent discrepancies between the observed and calculated C(+) ion density in the Venus ionosphere.

Partial cross sections for molecular photoionization (CO(+)), dissociative photoionization (C(+) and O(+)), and dissociative double photoionization (C(2+)) in CO have been measured from their thresholds to 90 A using techniques of mass spectrometry. The results are compared with data reported previously. Several peaks observed in the cross section curves for dissociated fragments are tentatively assigned by comparing with those in the photoelectron spectra reported for CO. It is concluded that the shoulder in the total absorption cross section curve between 400 and 90 A results solely from the dissociative ionization processes.

The molecular photoionization, dissociative photoionization and double photoionization cross sections for CO2 were measured from their onsets down to 90 A by using various combinations of mass spectrometers (a coincidence time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a magnetic mass spectrometer) and light sources (synchrotron radiation, and glow and spark discharge). It is concluded that the one broad peak and the three shoulders in the total adsorption cross section curve between 640 and 90 A are caused completely by dissociative ionization processes. Several peaks observed in the cross section curve for the total fragmentation CO(+)3, O(+) and C(+) are compared with those in the photoelectron spectrum reported for CO2.