Collective relaxation processes in atoms, molecules and clusters
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Kolorenc, P
Averbukh, V
Feifel, R
Eland, J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Electron correlation is an essential driver of a variety of relaxation processes in excited atomic and molecular systems. These are phenomena which often lead to autoionization typically involving two-electron transitions, such as the well-known Auger effect. However, electron correlation can give rise also to higher-order processes characterized by multi-electron transitions. Basic examples include simultaneous two-electron emission upon recombination of an inner-shell vacancy (double Auger decay) or collective decay of two holes with emission of a single electron. First reports of this class of processes date back to the 1960s, but their investigation intensified only recently with the advent of free-electron lasers. High fluxes of high-energy photons induce multiple excitation or ionization of a system on the femtosecond timescale and under such conditions the importance of multi-electron processes increases significantly. We present an overview of experimental and theoretical works on selected multi-electron relaxation phenomena in systems of different complexity, going from double Auger decay in atoms and small molecules to collective interatomic autoionization processes in nanoscale samples.
Date Issued
2016-04-04
Date Acceptance
2016-03-02
Citation
Journal of Physics B-Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 2016, 49 (8)
ISSN
1361-6455
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Physics B-Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume
49
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/49/8/082001
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Optics
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
Physics
electron correlation
autoionization
multiple ionization
DOUBLE AUGER PROCESSES
INTERATOMIC COULOMBIC DECAY
ELECTRON-IMPACT IONIZATION
K-SHELL VACANCIES
EXCITED-STATES
CHARGED IONS
POSTCOLLISION INTERACTION
ANGULAR-DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION RATES
HOLE STATES
General Physics
0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle And Plasma Physics
0205 Optical Physics
0307 Theoretical And Computational Chemistry
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
082001