Attosecond electron–spin dynamics in Xe 4d photoionization

Summary, in English

The photoionization of xenon atoms in the 70–100 eV range reveals several fascinating physical phenomena such as a giant resonance induced by the dynamic rearrangement of the electron cloud after photon absorption, an anomalous branching ratio between intermediate Xe⁺ states separated by the spin-orbit interaction and multiple Auger decay processes. These phenomena have been studied in the past, using in particular synchrotron radiation, but without access to real-time dynamics. Here, we study the dynamics of Xe 4d photoionization on its natural time scale combining attosecond interferometry and coincidence spectroscopy. A time-frequency analysis of the involved transitions allows us to identify two interfering ionization mechanisms: the broad giant dipole resonance with a fast decay time less than 50 as, and a narrow resonance at threshold induced by spin-flip transitions, with much longer decay times of several hundred as. Our results provide insight into the complex electron-spin dynamics of photo-induced phenomena.

• Författare: Shiyang Zhong; Jimmy Vinbladh; David Busto; Richard J. Squibb; Marcus Isinger; Lana Neoričić; Hugo Laurell; Robin Weissenbilder; Cord L. Arnold; Raimund Feifel; Jan Marcus Dahlström; Göran Wendin; Mathieu Gisselbrecht; Eva Lindroth; Anne L’Huillier
• Avdelning/ar: Atomfysik; Matematisk fysik; Synkrotronljusfysik; NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
• Publiceringsår: 2020-12-01
• Språk: Engelska
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Nature Communications
• Volym: 11
• Issue: 1
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18847-1
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Nature Publishing Group
• Ämne: Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
• Status: Published
• Projekt: Attosecond chronoscopy of electron wave-packets probing entanglement and time-ordering of quantum processes
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 2041-1723