S. Schössler

Interatomic Coulombic Decay following Photoionization of the Helium Dimer: Observation of Vibrational Structure

Using synchrotron radiation we simultaneously ionize and excite one helium atom of a helium dimer (He2) in a shakeup process. The populated states of the dimer ion [i.e., He(*+)(n = 2, 3) - He] are found to deexcite via interatomic Coulombic decay. This leads to the emission of a second electron from the neutral site and a subsequent Coulomb explosion. In this Letter we present a measurement of the momenta of fragments that are created during this reaction. The electron energy distribution and the kinetic energy release of the two He+ ions show pronounced oscillations which we attribute to the structure of the vibrational wave function of the dimer ion.

Localization of inner-shell photoelectron emission and interatomic Coulombic decay in Ne2

We used cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) to investigate the decay of Ne2 after K-shell photoionization. The breakup into Ne1+/Ne2+ shows interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) occurring after a preceding atomic Auger decay. The molecular frame angular distributions of the photoelectron and the ICD electron show distinct, asymmetric features, which imply localization of the K-vacancy created at one of the two atomic sites of the Ne2 and an emission of the ICD electron from a localized site. The experimental results are supported by calculations in the frozen core Hartree–Fock approach.

Fragmentation pathways for selected electronic states of the acetylene dication

Coincident measurement of the Auger electron and fragment ion momenta emitted after carbon core-level photoionization of acetylene has yielded new understanding of how the dication fragments. Ab initio calculations and experimental data, including body-frame Auger angular distributions, are used to identify the parent electronic states and together yield a comprehensive map of the dissociation pathways which include surface crossings and barriers to direct dissociation. The Auger angular distributions for certain breakup channels show evidence of core–hole localization. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Enhanced production of low energy electrons by alpha particle impact

Radiation damage to living tissue stems not only from primary ionizing particles but to a substantial fraction from the dissociative attachment of secondary electrons with energies below the ionization threshold. We show that the emission yield of those low energy electrons increases dramatically in ion–atom collisions depending on whether or not the target atoms are isolated or embedded in an environment. Only when the atom that has been ionized and excited by the primary particle impact is in immediate proximity of another atom is a fragmentation route known as interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) enabled. This leads to the emission of a low energy electron. Over the past decade ICD was explored in several experiments following photoionization. Most recent results show its observation even in water clusters. Here we show the quantitative role of ICD for the production of low energy electrons by ion impact, thus approaching a scenario closer to that of radiation damage by alpha particles: We choose ion energies on the maximum of the Bragg peak where energy is most efficiently deposited in tissue. We compare the electron production after colliding He+ ions on isolated Ne atoms and on Ne dimers (Ne2). In the latter case the Ne atom impacted is surrounded by a most simple environment already opening ICD as a deexcitation channel. As a consequence, we find a dramatically enhanced low energy electron yield. The results suggest that ICD may have a significant influence on cell survival after exposure to ionizing radiation.

Evidence of interatomic Coulombic decay in ArKr after Ar 2p Auger decay

We have identified interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) processes in the ArKr dimer following Ar 2p Auger decay, using momentum-resolved electron–ion–ion coincidence spectroscopy and simultaneously determining the kinetic energy of the ICD electron and the KER between Ar 2+ and Kr + . We find that the spin-conserved ICD processes in which Ar 2+ (3p −3 3d) 1 Pa nd 3 P decay to Ar 2+ (3p −2 ) 1 Da nd 3 P, respectively, ionizing the Kr atom, are significantly stronger than the spin-flip ICD processes in which Ar 2+ (3p −3 3d) 1 Pa nd 3 P decay to Ar 2+ (3p −2 ) 3 Pa nd 1 D, respectively. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Single Photon Double Ionization of the Helium Dimer

We show that a single photon can ionize the two helium atoms of the helium dimer in a distance up to 10 A. The energy sharing among the electrons, the angular distributions of the ions and electrons, as well as comparison with electron impact data for helium atoms suggest a knockoff type double ionization process. The Coulomb explosion imaging of He2 provides a direct view of the nuclear wave function of this by far most extended and most diffuse of all naturally existing molecules.

Photoelectron and ICD electron angular distributions from fixed-in-space neon dimers

We report on molecular frame angular distributions of 2s photoelectrons and electrons emitted by interatomic Coulombic decay from neon dimers. We found that the measured angular distribution of the photoelectron strongly depends on the environment of the cluster. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with frozen core Hartree–Fock calculations. The ICD electrons show slight variations in their angular distribution for different kinetic energies.

A 2π spectrometer for electron–electron coincidence studies on surfaces

We present a new time-of-flight spectrometer for energy and angle-resolved measurements of electrons emitted in coincidence from a surface. By using a projection method, we can cover nearly 2π of the solid angle above the sample resulting in a very high coincidence efficiency. The use of this new spectrometer for the double photoemission process from surfaces will be demonstrated.We present a new time-of-flight spectrometer for energy and angle-resolved measurements of electrons emitted in coincidence from a surface. By using a projection method, we can cover nearly 2π of the solid angle above the sample resulting in a very high coincidence efficiency. The use of this new spectrometer for the double photoemission process from surfaces will be demonstrated.

Position and time sensitive photon counting detector with image charge delay-line readout

We have developed single photon counting image intensifier tubes combining position and time information read-out with at least 500x500 pixels and sub-nanosecond time resolution. This image intensifier type uses a resistive screen instead of a phosphor screen and the image charge pickup anode is placed outside the sealed tube. We present a novel delay-line anode design which allows for instance detecting simultaneously arriving pairs of photons. Due to the very low background this technique is suited for applications with very low light intensity and especially if a precise time tagging for each photon is required. We show results obtained with several anode types on a 25 mm image intensifier tube and a 40 mm open-face MCP detector and discuss the performance in neutron radiography, e.g. for homeland security, and the prospects for applications like Fluorescence Life-time Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), astronomy and X-ray polarimetry.

Microstructured electrode arrays: a source of high-pressure nonthermal plasma

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