Ionization potentials of ammonia

The kinetic energy spectrum of photoelectrons ejected from ammonia by monochromatic 584 A (21.21 eV) radiation has been determined using a spherical grid energy analyzer. Ionization potentials of 10.35 and 14.95 eV have been deduced from the spectrum and the relative transition probabilities to the ionic states have been measured. These experimental results are discussed in terms of the various molecular orbital theoretical treatments of the electronic structure of the ammonia molecule.