Core-level spectroscopy and dynamics of free molecules

A review of recent results on spectroscopy and dynamics of free molecules is presented. The experimental research reported here is mainly concerned with processes of core excitation and decay of isolated molecules, primarily investigated by resonant Auger spectroscopy. Several examples are shown concerning the interplay of the timescales of electron decay with nuclear motion involving dissociation processes, the occurrence of interference phenomena and recoil. The capability of such studies to reveal subtle details of the light-matter interaction, of the electronic structure and of the evolution of the short-lived states thus created is enlightened.