Carbon 1s photoelectron spectra of CO molecules in gas phase were recorded in the tender x-ray energy range, from 2.3 to 6.9 keV. The intensity ratios of individual peaks from nu = 0 to 3 within the vibrational progression of the C 1s photoelectron spectrum were determined at the various photon energies and are shown to be strongly affected by the photoelectron recoil effect. The experimental vibrational intensity ratios are compared with theoretical predictions at different levels of accuracy. Developments of the recoil model, using generalized Franck-Condon factors, rovibrational coupling, Morse potential energy curves, and accurate angular averaging are presented and applied to the analysis of the experimental results.
