Observation of quantum beats in autoionizing electron spectra created by slow Na+-Ne collisions.

Abstract

Angle-resolved energy spectra of ejected electrons have been measured following the decay of autoionizing states created by slow Na/sup +/ impact on Ne. Spectral structures with two major peaks due to molecular and atomic autoioniztion have been observed at the ion impact energy of 200 eV. Remarkable substructures have been found in the lower-energy wing of the atomic autoionization peak. These substructures are associated with quantum beats due to the interference between the coherent autoionizing transitions of the doubly excited state to the doublet substates /sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ and /sup 2/P/sub 3/2/ of Ne/sup +/(2p/sup 5/).