Unveiling residual molecular binding in triply charged Hydrogen Bromide

Double Auger decay following HBr(3d) inner-shell ionization by synchrotron radiation has been used to investigate HBr3+ potential energy curves. The direct double Auger decay reveals the residual binding energy sustained by theoretical calculation. Sequential processes are also observed and are characterized through observation of Br+* autoionizing states following HBr2+ fragmentation.