Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
11:30
Recombination Dynamics in Thin-film Photovoltaic Materials via Time-resolved Microwave Conductivity
Published on: March 6, 2017
Dynamics and post-collision interaction effects in two electron decay from the Xenon 4d hole
P Lablanquie1, S Sheinerman, F Penent
1LURE, Centre Universitaire Paris-Sud, 91898 Orsay, France. lablanquie@lure.u-psud.fr
Physical Review Letters
|August 11, 2001
Summary
Researchers studied xenon (Xe) atom 4d photoionization, detecting two Auger electrons. This reveals crucial insights into the 4d hole decay dynamics and post-collision interactions.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Quantum Mechanics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- The 4d photoionization of xenon (Xe) is a complex process involving electron emission.
- Understanding the decay dynamics of the 4d hole is crucial for atomic physics.
- Post-collision interaction (PCI) effects influence electron energy distributions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the energy sharing distribution of two Auger electrons emitted after Xe 4d photoionization.
- To investigate post-collision interaction (PCI) effects in Xe.
- To gain insights into the decay dynamics of the 4d hole in Xe.
Main Methods:
- Coincidence detection of two Auger electrons (one slow, one fast).
- Measurement of the energy sharing distribution between the two electrons.
- Analysis of distorted line shapes to infer decay pathways.
Main Results:
- The energy sharing distribution of the two Auger electrons was measured for the first time.
- Evidence of post-collision interaction (PCI) effects was observed.
- The dominant decay pathway involves cascade emission of a zero kinetic energy Auger electron followed by a fast Auger electron.
- Intermediate Xe2+* states have estimated widths of approximately 60 meV.
Conclusions:
- The study provides unique information on the decay dynamics of the 4d hole in Xe.
- Cascade emission is identified as the primary decay mechanism.
- PCI effects play a significant role in shaping the observed electron spectra.
Related Concept Videos
02:32The de Broglie Wavelength
In the macroscopic world, objects that are large enough to be seen by the naked eye follow the rules of classical physics. A billiard ball moving on a table will behave like a particle; it will continue traveling in a straight line unless it collides with another ball, or it is acted on by some other force, such as friction. The ball has a well-defined position and velocity or well-defined momentum, p = mv, which is defined by mass m and velocity v at any given moment. This is the typical...
03:23Types of Radioactivity
The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
01:00Elastic Collisions: Introduction
An elastic collision is one that conserves both internal kinetic energy and momentum. Internal kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in a system. Truly elastic collisions can only be achieved with subatomic particles, such as electrons striking nuclei. Macroscopic collisions can be very nearly, but not quite, elastic, as some kinetic energy is always converted into other forms of energy such as heat transfer due to friction and sound. An example of a nearly...
01:06Collisions in Multiple Dimensions: Problem Solving
In multiple dimensions, the conservation of momentum applies in each direction independently. Hence, to solve collisions in multiple dimensions, we should write down the momentum conservation in each direction separately. To help understand collisions in multiple dimensions, consider an example.
A small car of mass 1,200 kg traveling east at 60 km/h collides at an intersection with a truck of mass 3,000 kg traveling due north at 40 km/h. The two vehicles are locked together. What is the...
A small car of mass 1,200 kg traveling east at 60 km/h collides at an intersection with a truck of mass 3,000 kg traveling due north at 40 km/h. The two vehicles are locked together. What is the...
01:27π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
An applied magnetic field causes loosely bound π-electrons in organic molecules to circulate, producing a local or induced diamagnetic field over a large spatial volume. As the molecules tumble in solution, the field generated by π-electrons in spherical substituents results in a zero net field. However, the net field generated by π-electrons in non-spherical substituents is not zero. The effect of this induced field depends on the orientation of the molecule with respect to B0, resulting in...
01:25Deactivation Processes: Jablonski Diagram
Luminescence, the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed energy, is a process that involves the interaction of molecules with light. The energy-level diagram, or Jablonski diagram, is a graphical representation of these interactions, illustrating the various states and transitions a molecule can undergo. In a typical Jablonski diagram, the lowest horizontal line represents the ground-state energy of the molecule, which is usually a singlet state. This state represents the energies...