Energy correlation among three photoelectrons emitted in core-valence-valence triple photoionization of Ne

A modified magnetic bottle electron spectrometer for the detection of multiply charged ions in coincidence with all correlated electrons: decay pathways to Xe3+ above xenon-4d ionization threshold

Single-photon multiple photoionization results from electron correlations that make this process possible beyond the independent electron approximation. To study this phenomenon experimentally, the detection in coincidence of all emitted electrons is the most direct approach. It provides the relative contribution of all possible multiple ionization processes, the energy distribution between electrons that can reveal simultaneous or sequential mechanisms, and, if possible, the angular correlations between electrons. In the present work, we present a new magnet design of our magnetic bottle electron spectrometer that allows the detection of multiply charged Xeⁿ⁺ ions in coincidence with n electrons. This new coincidence detection allows more efficient extraction of minor channels that are otherwise masked by random coincidences. The proof of principle is provided for xenon triple ionization.

A virtual stretch of light pulse interval by pulsed electron extraction introduced into a magnetic bottle electron spectrometer

A pulsed extraction of electrons associated with a single light pulse is introduced into electron time-of-flight measurement by using a magnetic bottle electron spectrometer. The pulsed extraction enables us to observe long times-of-flight of electrons with synchrotron radiation pulses of short periods. The feasibility and the performance of this method are demonstrated by multielectron coincidence measurements for Xe 4d excitation/ionization.

Observation of a four-electron Auger process in near-K-edge photoionization of singly charged carbon ions

Single, double, and triple ionization of C(1+) ions by single photons is investigated in the energy range of 286-326 eV, i.e., in the range from the lowest-energy K-vacancy resonances to well beyond the K-shell ionization threshold. Clear signatures of C(1+)(1s2s(2)2p(2) (2)D,(2)P) resonances are found in the triple-ionization channel. The only possible mechanism producing C(4+)(1s(2)) via these resonances is direct triple-Auger decay, i.e., a four-electron process with simultaneous emission of three electrons.

Decay of a 2p inner-shell hole in an Ar(+) ion

Direct measurements of the photoelectrons or Auger electrons associated with inner shell ionization of positively charged ions are extremely difficult and rarely realized. We propose an alternative method to simulate such measurements, based on core valence double photoionization of the neutral species. As an example, we obtain the spectroscopy, lifetimes, and Auger decays of the states arising from 2p inner shell ionisation of an Ar(+) ion. Observations compare well with theoretical predictions obtained within multiconfigurational Dirac-Fock formalism.

Angular distributions for the complete photofragmentation of the Li atom

We explore the complete breakup of the Li atom after absorption of a single photon, the purest example of the so-called four-body Coulomb problem. The resulting strongly correlated three-electron continuum is investigated by calculating the angular distributions of the ionized electrons using advanced close-coupling techniques. We find that the distributions are dominated by the Coulomb interactions between the electrons, that multiple break-up processes can be identified, and that the complex dynamics of the fragmentation process are evident for most scattering geometries.