Suppression of exponential electronic decay in a charged environment

Area of Science:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Quantum Dynamics
• Ultrafast Science

Background:

• Inner-shell ionization creates excited ionic states that typically decay via electron emission.
• Conventional decay dynamics are assumed to be exponential, characterized by a decay rate.
• High-intensity free-electron laser (FEL) radiation enables novel investigations of atomic and molecular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the decay dynamics of multiply ionized clusters formed by FEL interaction.
• To explore the influence of emitted electron trapping on decay processes.
• To analyze the implications for Coster-Kronig and interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) under FEL conditions.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of electron emission and trapping in multiply ionized clusters.
• Simulation of decay dynamics following inner-shell ionization by intense FEL radiation.
• Analysis of electron trapping effects on the temporal evolution of ionic states.

Main Results:

• Emitted electron trapping by neighboring ions in multiply ionized clusters can qualitatively alter decay dynamics.
• Decay processes can transition from exponential to oscillatory behavior due to electron trapping.
• The predicted effect has significant implications for understanding FEL-induced Coster-Kronig and ICD processes.

Conclusions:

• Electron trapping in FEL-irradiated clusters introduces non-exponential, oscillatory decay pathways.
• This phenomenon challenges standard assumptions about atomic and molecular decay rates.
• Accurate modeling of electron dynamics is crucial for interpreting FEL-induced ionization and decay experiments.