Photoionization Of Atoms Research Articles

Valence-electron correlation in the double K -shell photoionization of atomic beryllium

We extended the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) + effective charge (EFC) method for double photoionization of atoms and investigated the effect of valence-electron correlation in the double $K$-shell photoionization of atomic beryllium. We used the MCHF method, which accounts for electron correlations, to calculate the initial-state wave function. The wave functions for the two continuum electrons in the final state are calculated in the angle-dependent EFC approximation. The actual interaction potential between the two final-state continuum electrons is approximated by the EFC, which is determined variationally. We studied the effect of valence shell electron correlation on the $K$-shell double photoionization of beryllium for both equal and unequal sharing of excess photon energies at four fixed scattered electron directions in order to study the effects near the double $K$-shell ionization threshold. We found considerable effect of valence shell correlation in the triple-differential cross section for double photoionization of the beryllium atom at each of the excess photon energies.

Photodissociation and photoionisation of atoms and molecules of astrophysical interest

A new collection of photodissociation and photoionisation cross sections for 102 atoms and molecules of astrochemical interest has been assembled, along with a brief review of the basic processes involved. These have been used to calculate dissociation and ionisation rates, with uncertainties, in a standard ultraviolet interstellar radiation field (ISRF) and wavelength-dependent radiation fields. The new ISRF rates generally agree within 30% with our previous compilations, with a few notable exceptions. The reduction of rates in shielded regions was calculated as a function of dust, molecular and atomic hydrogen, atomic C, and self-shielding column densities. The relative importance of shielding types depends on the species in question and the dust optical properties. The new data are publicly available from the Leiden photodissociation and ionisation database. Sensitivity of rates to variation of temperature and isotope, and cross section uncertainties, are tested. Tests were conducted with an interstellar-cloud chemical model, and find general agreement (within a factor of two) with the previous iteration of the Leiden database for the ISRF, and order-of-magnitude variations assuming various kinds of stellar radiation. The newly parameterised dust-shielding factors makes a factor-of-two difference to many atomic and molecular abundances relative to parameters currently in the UDfA and KIDA astrochemical reaction databases. The newly-calculated cosmic-ray induced photodissociation and ionisation rates differ from current standard values up to a factor of 5. Under high temperature and cosmic-ray-flux conditions the new rates alter the equilibrium abundances of abundant dark cloud abundances by up to a factor of two. The partial cross sections for H2O and NH3 photodissociation forming OH, O, NH2 and NH are also evaluated and lead to radiation-field-dependent branching ratios.

Inter-Series Interactions on the Atomic Photoionization Spectra Studied by the Phase-Shifted Multichannel-Quantum Defect Theory

Development in mathematical formulations of parameterizing the resonance structures using the phase-shifted multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) and their use in analyzing the effect of inter-series interactions on the autoionizing Rydberg spectra is reviewed. Reformulation of the short-range scattering matrix into the form analogous to S = SBSR in scattering theory are the crucial step in this development. Formulation adopts different directions and goals depending on whether autoionizing series converge to the same limit (degenerate) or to different limits (nondegenerate) because of the different nature of the perturbation. For the nondegenerate case, finding the simplest form of profile index functions of the autoionizing spectra with the minimal number of parameters is the main goal and some results are reviewed. For the degenerate case where perturbation acts uniformly throughout the entire series, isolation of the overlapped autoionizing series into the unperturbed autoionizing series is the key objective in research and some results in that direction are reviewed.

Identification of competing ionization processes in the generation of ultrafast electron bunches from cold-atom electron sources

We make direct measurements of the duration of ultrafast cold-electron bunches produced by photoionization of laser-cooled atoms. We show that the bunch duration can vary by up to six orders of magnitude for relatively small changes in laser wavelength that enhance or inhibit specific photoexcitation pathways and below-threshold tunneling. By selecting a two-color multiphoton excitation process, bunches with durations as low as the measurement resolution limit of $130\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ps}$ are measured using a streak technique. Verification that ultrafast cold-electron bunches can be generated by photoionization of cold atoms is an important step towards their application in high-brightness ultrafast electron diffraction and injectors for particle accelerators.

Photon momentum transfer in photoionisation: unexpected breakdown of the dipole approximation

ABSTRACTIn most models and theoretical calculations describing multiphoton or tunnelling ionisation by infrared light, and in most part of the spectroscopy, the dipole approximation is used. This is equivalent to setting the very small photon momentum to zero. We review and complete our recent theoretical investigations which showed the importance of photon momentum in photoionisation of atoms in various regimes. We report signatures of the photon momentum in one photon, multiphoton and tunnelling regimes and compare them to the predictions of a new variant a simple standard tunnelling three-step model in which the Lorentz force is included in the final (classical) ionisation step. Importance of the magnetic quiver motion is underlined. In each regime, the photon momentum effect shows up in a specific way, in particular, the dependence of the photon effect on the laser polarisation is reviewed in detail. We also outline how this effect shows up in molecular photoionisation.

Quadrupole effects in angular distributions of photoelectrons upon ionization of Kr by X-ray photons

Implementation of promising control schemes for the intensity and position of X-ray-laser beams with a photon energy up to several tens of kiloelectronvolts requires knowledge of the angular dependence of cross sections for photoionization of noble gas atoms by hard photons. Estimates of quadrupole corrections to the cross section for photoionization of a Kr atom by X-ray photons with an energy of about 25 keV are reported in this paper. An analytic expression for the cross section of the process is parameterized in a compact form convenient for analyzing angular distributions with an arbitrary polarization of a photon beam.

Tunneling ionization of neon atoms carrying different orbital angular momenta in strong laser fields

The photoionization of model neon atoms carrying different angular momenta in strong laser fields is studied using several different theoretical methods, such as the time-dependent Schr\odinger simulation, classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulation, quantum trajectory Monte Carlo simulation, and backward propagation. The tunneling exit, time-dependent tunneling rate, and photoelectron momentum distribution at tunneling are explored by cross comparing the photoelectron momentum distributions calculated with these methods. When the electron and laser field counter rotate, the tunneling exit is more close to the nucleus, resulting in a larger tunneling ionization rate. Different transverse momenta at tunneling exits induce different ultimate photoelectron momentum distributions.

Coverage threshold for laser-induced lithography

Recent experimental observations of laser-induced adsorption at the interface between an alkali vapor and a dielectric surface have demonstrated the possibility of growing metallic films of nanometric thickness on dielectric surfaces, with arbitrary shapes determined by the intensity profile of the light. The mechanisms directly responsible for the accumulation of atoms at the irradiated surface have been shown to involve photo-ionization of atoms very close to the surface. However, the existence of a vapor-pressure threshold for initiating the film growth still raises questions on the processes occurring at the surface. In this letter, we report on the observation that the vapor-pressure threshold corresponds to a minimum adatom coverage necessary for the surface to effectively neutralize the incoming ions and make possible the growth of a multilayer film. We discuss the hypothesis that the coverage threshold is a surface conductivity threshold.

Erratum: Photoionization of hydrogen atoms by coherent intense high-frequency short laser pulses: Direct propagation of electron wave packets on large spatial grids [Phys. Rev. A 88 , 023422 (2013)

Erratum: Photoionization of hydrogen atoms by coherent intense high-frequency short laser pulses: Direct propagation of electron wave packets on large spatial grids [Phys. Rev. A <b>88</b> , 023422 (2013)

Multiple Auger cycle photoionisation of manganese atoms by short soft x-ray pulses

The multiple ionisation of atomic Mn, excited at (photon energy: 52.1 eV) and above (photon energy: 61.1 eV) the discrete giant resonance, was studied using high irradiation free-electron-laser soft x-ray pulses from the BL2 beamline of FLASH, DESY, Hamburg. In particular, the impact of the giant resonance on the ionisation mechanism was investigated. Ion mass-over-charge spectra were obtained by means of ion time-of-flight spectrometry. For the two photon energies, the yield of the different ionic charge states Mn (q = 0–7) was determined as a function of the irradiance of the soft x-ray pulses. The maximum charge state observed was Mn6+ for resonant excitation at 52.1 eV and Mn7+ for non-resonant excitation at 61.1 eV at a maximum irradiation of .

Beat structure in the solution of scattering problems with nondecaying sources*

In this contribution we study mathematical properties of scattering solutions of Schrodinger-type equations with nondecaying, outgoing type, driven terms. We analyze in some details the two-body frame, where an analytical treatment is possible, and find how the scattering solution is expected to contain a beating type structure. The analytical formulation is first presented, and then fully and successfully confirmed with two numerical implementations: the Exterior Complex Scaling and the Generalized Sturmian Functions methods. Our results illustrate the underlying mathematical structure that can be found in, for example, the photoionization of atoms or molecules, in the case when several photons are absorbed or in second order calculations for a single photon absorption. A test case within the three-body frame is also presented, illustrating numerically the presence of beat structures in separately the single and double continuum channels.

Optimization of complex slater-type functions with analytic derivative methods for describing photoionization differential cross sections.

The complex basis function (CBF) method applied to various atomic and molecular photoionization problems can be interpreted as an L2 method to solve the driven-type (inhomogeneous) Schrödinger equation, whose driven term being dipole operator times the initial state wave function. However, efficient basis functions for representing the solution have not fully been studied. Moreover, the relation between their solution and that of the ordinary Schrödinger equation has been unclear. For these reasons, most previous applications have been limited to total cross sections. To examine the applicability of the CBF method to differential cross sections and asymmetry parameters, we show that the complex valued solution to the driven-type Schrödinger equation can be variationally obtained by optimizing the complex trial functions for the frequency dependent polarizability. In the test calculations made for the hydrogen photoionization problem with five or six complex Slater-type orbitals (cSTOs), their complex valued expansion coefficients and the orbital exponents have been optimized with the analytic derivative method. Both the real and imaginary parts of the solution have been obtained accurately in a wide region covering typical molecular regions. Their phase shifts and asymmetry parameters are successfully obtained by extrapolating the CBF solution from the inner matching region to the asymptotic region using WKB method. The distribution of the optimized orbital exponents in the complex plane is explained based on the close connection between the CBF method and the driven-type equation method. The obtained information is essential to constructing the appropriate basis sets in future molecular applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Influences of Doppler broadening of absorption lines on a multi-step photoionization process of atoms

Photoexcitation and photoionization of atoms, the central part of atom vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS), relate to the ionization yield and isotope selectivity directly. Doppler broadening of absorption lines is one of the parameters that influence the photoexcitation and photoionization process of atoms. When evaporation temperature is high or beam equipment is absent, Doppler broadening has obvious influence on the ionization yield because most of atoms are non-resonantly excited. In this paper, we study the influences of Doppler broadening of absorption lines on a multi-step photoexcitation and photoionization process of atoms according to the facts of AVLIS. A Doppler-broadened three-level atom system with two resonant lasers is investigated. The interaction between laser field and atoms is described by a density matrix, which is calculated by fourth-order Runge-Kutta numerical method with variable steps. The results show that the ionization yield of atoms decreases with the increase of Doppler broadening of absorption lines under the same laser parameters. At a constant laser power, the ionization yield reaches its maximum value at the best laser bandwidths, which is different from that obtained without Doppler broadening, as reported in published papers. Meanwhile, the best laser bandwidth increases with the increase of Rabi frequency and Doppler broadening when other parameters are constant. Moreover, the best bandwidth of the second laser is smaller than that of the first laser in a multi-step photoionization process of atoms. Therefore, lasers should work at the best bandwidths in AVLIS for highest ionization yield. It is advantageous to make laser bandwidths slightly bigger than the best bandwidths technically for smaller fluctuation of ionization yield, owing to incoercible stochastic volatility in laser bandwidths. The ionization yield increases with the decrease of Doppler broadening, especially at the best laser bandwidths. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce Doppler broadening of atom vapor in laser ionization zone.

2000 eV X-ray laser transparent mechanism of neon atom

X-ray transparency occurs during the interaction of X-ray free electron laser with matter. The study of the mechanism of X-ray transparency is of great value for understanding the interaction between X-ray free electron laser and matter. In this paper, the main ionization modes from neutral neon atom till bare nucleus at different flux densities are determined based on the 2000 eV photoionization cross sections and the Auger decay rates of various neon atoms (ions), calculated by the Flexible Atomic Code program. By establishing and solving the rate equations, the formulas of the proportions of various electronic configurations of neon in the main ionization mode are obtained. The proportions of electron configurations in the main ionization modes and the atomic average photoionization cross sections at flux densities of 2000 and 10000 -2fs-1 are calculated by using the formulas. The ratios of the number of hollow atoms to that of complete valence electrons at any time under different flux density laser irradiations are calculated. It is found that both the bare nuclei and the hollow atoms cause X-ray transparency, and a relatively high ratio of the number of hollow atoms to that of complete valence electrons can be achieved by choosing appropriate flux density and pulse duration.

Attosecond Time Delay in Photoemission and Electron Scattering near Threshold.

We study the time delay in the primary photoemission channel near the opening of an additional channel and compare it with the Wigner time delay in elastic scattering of the photoelectron near the corresponding inelastic threshold. The photoemission time delay near threshold is significantly enhanced, to a measurable 40 as, in comparison to the corresponding elastic scattering delay. The enhancement is due to the different lowest order of interelectron interaction coupling the primary and additional photoemission channels. We illustrate these findings by considering photodetachment from the H^{-} negative ion, and compare it with electron scattering on the hydrogen atom near the first excitation threshold. Other threshold processes of atomic photoionization and molecular photofragmentation, where photoemission time delay is enhanced, are identified. This opens the possibility of studying threshold behavior utilizing attosecond chronoscopy.

Continuous absorption and depression in the solar spectrum at wavelengths from 650 to 820 nm

Results of calculations of the cross-sections of the basic processes forming continuous absorption in the photospheres of solar-type stars in the visible and infrared spectral ranges are reported. (These processes are photoionization of H– ions and excited hydrogen atoms, as well as absorption of photons by “free” electrons being in the partially ionized plasma of the photosphere.) The effective cross-section of hydrogen satisfying the observational data or the results of laboratory experiments was introduced, and its nonmonotonic behavior caused by photoionization of excited hydrogen atoms was ascertained in the spectral range of λ from 650 to 820 nm. For a plane-parallel model of the Sun, the continuous absorption coefficient κc(λ|z) was calculated as a function of the wavelength and coordinate. Its spectral features caused by the effective cross-section structure in the above-mentioned spectral range were for the first time analyzed. The spectral dependence of the radiation intensity in the solar disk center in the continuous spectral range of λ from 600 to 900 nm was studied. The calculation results were compared to the currently available data of observations. It has been shown that the deviation of the observed radiation intensity from the Planck distribution (i.e., the depression) is caused by the processes of photoionization of the excited hydrogen atoms in the states with a principal quantum number n = 3. In the range of λ from 650 to 820 nm, the mean relative deviation is approximately 4%. It has been established that the magnitude of the depression effect significantly depends on the effective temperature of the photosphere of a solar-type star.

Kinematic origin for near-zero energy structures in mid-IR strong field ionization

We propose and discuss a kinematic mechanism underlying the recently discovered ‘near-zero energy structure’ in the photoionization of atoms in strong mid-infrared laser fields, based on trajectories which revisit the ion at low velocities exactly analogous to the series responsible for low-energy structures. The different scaling of the new series, as , suggests that the near-zero energy structure can be lifted to higher energies, where it can be better resolved and studied, using harder targets with higher ionization potential.

Atomic photoionization experiment by harmonic-generation spectroscopy

Measurements of the high-order-harmonic generation yield of the argon (Ar) atom driven by a strong elliptically polarized laser field are shown to completely determine the field-free differential photoionization cross section of Ar, i.e., the energy dependence of both the angle-integrated photoionization cross section and the angular distribution asymmetry parameter.

The prospects of evaluation the probabilities of multiple photoionization of atoms in a wide range of field strengths on base of one method

Theoretical studies of the processes in multielectron atoms under the exposure of strong electromagnetic fields is intensively developed subject in laser physics. Many interesting features of these processes are difficult to be reproduced by means of the existing theoretical methods. It concerns, for example, the effects of electron–electron correlations in multiple photoionization. In light of the progress in this area for weak and strong fields it may be of interest to develop a method equally efficient for a wide range of field strengths. In this paper the capability of a new trajectory-based method, which works in a wide range of field strengths and reproduces effects attributed to electron–electron correlations, is demonstrated for single- and double-photoionization in helium atom.

Na原子及类Na离子Fe15+价壳层光电离过程的理论研究

Na原子及类Na离子Fe15+价壳层光电离过程的理论研究