Interference patterns in ionization of Kramers-Henneberger atom

We combine IR pump and XUV probe laser pulses to visualize the Kramers–Henneberger (KH) state of the potassium atom. We demonstrate that ionization of such an atom exhibits some molecular-like features such as low order interference maxima in photoelectron momentum spectra. The locations of these maxima allow to estimate spatial dimensions of the KH atom and can be used for accurate calibration of high intensity laser fields. At the same time, we show that an analogy between the KH atom and a homo-nuclear diatomic molecule cannot be extended too far. In particular, higher order interference maxima are very difficult to observe in the case of the KH state. We attribute this to a particular structure of the KH potential which does not confine electron motion to a well-defined potential well unlike in real diatomic molecules.

Separating Dipole and Quadrupole Contributions to Single-Photon Double Ionization

We report on a kinematically complete measurement of double ionization of helium by a single 1100 eV circularly polarized photon. By exploiting dipole selection rules in the two-electron continuum state, we observed the angular emission pattern of electrons originating from a pure quadrupole transition. Our fully differential experimental data and companion ab initio nonperturbative theory show the separation of dipole and quadrupole contributions to photo-double-ionization and provide new insight into the nature of the quasifree mechanism.

Imaging the square of the correlated two-electron wave function of a hydrogen molecule

The toolbox for imaging molecules is well-equipped today. Some techniques visualize the geometrical structure, others the electron density or electron orbitals. Molecules are many-body systems for which the correlation between the constituents is decisive and the spatial and the momentum distribution of one electron depends on those of the other electrons and the nuclei. Such correlations have escaped direct observation by imaging techniques so far. Here, we implement an imaging scheme which visualizes correlations between electrons by coincident detection of the reaction fragments after high energy photofragmentation. With this technique, we examine the H₂ two-electron wave function in which electron–electron correlation beyond the mean-field level is prominent. We visualize the dependence of the wave function on the internuclear distance. High energy photoelectrons are shown to be a powerful tool for molecular imaging. Our study paves the way for future time resolved correlation imaging at FELs and laser based X-ray sources.

Electron-electron correlation is a complex and interesting phenomenon that occurs in multi-electron systems. Here, the authors demonstrate the imaging of the correlated two-electron wave function in hydrogen molecule using the coincident detection of the electron and proton after the photoionization.

Observation and Control of Laser-Enabled Auger Decay

Single-photon laser-enabled Auger decay (spLEAD) is predicted theoretically [B. Cooper and V. Averbukh, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 083004 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.111.083004] and here we report its first experimental observation in neon. Using coherent, bichromatic free-electron laser pulses, we detect the process and coherently control the angular distribution of the emitted electrons by varying the phase difference between the two laser fields. Since spLEAD is highly sensitive to electron correlation, this is a promising method for probing both correlation and ultrafast hole migration in more complex systems.

The interaction of excited atoms and few-cycle laser pulses

This work describes the first observations of the ionisation of neon in a metastable atomic state utilising a strong-field, few-cycle light pulse. We compare the observations to theoretical predictions based on the Ammosov-Delone-Krainov (ADK) theory and a solution to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). The TDSE provides better agreement with the experimental data than the ADK theory. We optically pump the target atomic species and measure the ionisation rate as the a function of different steady-state populations in the fine structure of the target state which shows significant ionisation rate dependence on populations of spin-polarised states. The physical mechanism for this effect is unknown.

Delay in atomic photoionization

We analyze the time delay between emission of photoelectrons from the outer valence ns and np subshells in noble gas atoms following absorption of an attosecond extreme ultraviolet pulse. Various processes such as elastic scattering of the photoelectron on the parent ion and many-electron correlation affect the apparent "time zero" when the photoelectron leaves the atom. This qualitatively explains the time delay between photoemission from the 2s and 2p subshells of Ne as determined experimentally by attosecond streaking [Science 328, 1658 (2010)]. However, with our extensive numerical modeling, we were only able to account for less than half of the measured time delay of 21 ± 5 as. We argue that the extreme ultraviolet pulse alone cannot produce such a large time delay and it is the streaking IR field that is most likely responsible for this effect.

(e,3e) on helium at low impact energy: the strongly correlated three-electron continuum

Double ionization of the helium atom by slow electron impact (E(0)=106 eV) is studied in a kinematically complete experiment. Because of a low excess energy E(exc)=27 eV above the double ionization threshold, a strongly correlated three-electron continuum is realized. This is demonstrated by measuring and calculating the fully differential cross sections for equal energy sharing of the final-state electrons. While the electron emission is dominated by a strong Coulomb repulsion, also signatures of more complex dynamics of the full four-body system are identified.

Partial photoionization cross sections and angular distributions for double excitation of helium up to the N = 13 threshold

Partial photoionization cross sections sigmaN(Egamma) and photoelectron angular distributions betaN(Egamma) were measured for the final ionic states He+ (N > 4) in the region between the N = 8 and N = 13 thresholds (Egamma > 78.155 eV) using the cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy technique (COLTRIMS). Comparison of the experimental data with two independent sets of theoretical predictions reveals disagreement for the branching ratios to the various HeN(+) states. The angular distributions just below the double ionization threshold suggest an excitation process for highly excited N states similar to the Wannier mechanism for double ionization.

Triple coincidence (e,gamma2e) experiment for simultaneous electron impact ionization excitation of helium

Simultaneous ionization and excitation of helium atoms by 500 eV electron impact is observed by a triple coincidence of an ionized slow electron, the recoiling He+ ion, and the radiated vacuum ultraviolet photon (lambda< or =30.4 nm). Kinematically complete differential cross sections are presented for the He+(2p)2P final ionic state, demonstrating the feasibility of a quantum mechanically complete experiment. The experimental data are compared to predictions from state-of-the-art numerical calculations. For large momentum transfers, a first-order treatment of the projectile-target interaction can reproduce the experimental angular dependence, but a second-order treatment is required to obtain consistent magnitudes.

The Spectral Momentum Density of Aluminium, Copper and Gold Measured by Electron Momentum Spectroscopy

Electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) gives direct information of the full energy-resolved electron momentum densities of occupied states (bands) in solids – single crystal, polycrystalline or amorphous. Here we present data from a new high energy EMS spectrometer using 50 keV incident and 25 keV outgoing electrons, on polycrystalline specimens of aluminium, copper and gold. The spectral momentum densities show very significant electron-electron correlation effects which are in good agreement with many-body Green´s function calculations.

How to Explain the Difference between (?, e) and (e, 2e) Spectroscopic Factors

It is shown that the relative line intensity of the main and satellite lines in the atomic shell ionisation spectrum depends significantly on the mechanism responsible for the removal of the electron. This dependence is explained by the influence of many-electron correlations in the initial state of the atom to be ionised, which is considerable when the momentum transferred to the ion is large. This is the case for photoionisation, i.e. the (y, e) reaction under the condition of large photon energy. On the contrary, in electron momentum spectroscopy, such as the symmetric noncoplanar (e, 2e) reaction, the momentum transferred to the ion is typically small and the initial atomic state correlations are negligible. It follows from this that the spectroscopic factors of the different final states of the ion, as defined in the usual way, can be measured only for the (e,2e) reaction, whereas a more involved interpretation is necessary for the (y, e) reaction. Comparison of the calculated spectroscopic factors of Ar II and Xe II 2S ion eigenstates with recent (Y,e) and (e,2e) experimental data has confirmed this conclusion.