Initial state dependence in multi-electron threshold ionization of atoms

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the initial electronic configuration influences the geometric patterns of multi-electron ionization in atoms, revealing dependence on initial states and predicting specific break-up geometries.

Contribution

It demonstrates the dependence of ionization geometry on initial electron configurations and identifies new lower-symmetry break-up patterns through classical stability analysis.

Findings

Triangular and T-shaped break-up geometries identified for three-electron ionization.

Initial electronic states influence the resulting ionization geometry.

Predictions made for experimental observation of break-up patterns.

Abstract

It is shown that the geometry of multi-electron threshold ionization in atoms depends on the initial configuration of bound electrons. The reason for this behavior is found in the stability properties of the classical fixed point of the equations of motion for multiple threshold fragmentation. Specifically for three-electron break-up, apart from the symmetric triangular configuration also a break-up of lower symmetry in the form of a T-shape can occur, as we demonstrate by calculating triple photoionization for the lithium ground and first excited states. We predict the electron break-up geometry for threshold fragmentation experiments.