Two-center resonant photoionization-excitation driven by combined intra- and interatomic electron correlations

TL;DR

This paper investigates a resonant two-center photoionization process driven by combined intra- and interatomic electron correlations, which can significantly surpass direct ionization-excitation in efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism of two-center resonant photoionization involving both intra- and interatomic electron correlations, highlighting conditions where it dominates over traditional processes.

Findings

Process can dominate over direct photoionization-excitation

Resonant energy transfer leads to ionization with simultaneous excitation

Discusses alternative two-center ionization with different residual states

Abstract

Ionization-excitation of an atom induced by the absorption of a single photon in the presence of a neighbouring atom is studied. The latter is, first, resonantly photoexcited and, afterwards, transfers the excitation energy radiationlessly to the other atom, leading to its ionization with simultaneous excitation. The process relies on the combined effects of interatomic and intraatomic electron correlations. Under suitable conditions, it can dominate by several orders of magnitude over direct photoionization-excitation and even over direct photoionization. In addition, we briefly discuss another kind of two-center resonant photoionization with excitation where the ionization and residual excitation in the final state are located at different atomic sites.