Interatomic and Intermolecular Coulombic Decay.

Area of Science:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Quantum Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Interatomic or intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) is a nonlocal electronic decay mechanism.
• It involves energy transfer from an excited atom/molecule to a neighbor, causing ionization.
• ICD was theoretically predicted in the 1990s and experimentally confirmed later.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an introduction to the phenomenon of ICD.
• To review theoretical and experimental studies of ICD processes.
• To connect ICD to related energy transfer and ionization phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Review of theoretical approaches for describing ICD.
• Description of experimental techniques used for ICD investigation.
• Compilation of existing literature on ICD in atomic and molecular systems.

Main Results:

• ICD is a significant mechanism in weakly bound matter.
• Various theoretical and experimental methods have been developed to study ICD.
• A growing body of research exists on ICD across different systems.

Conclusions:

• ICD is a well-established phenomenon with diverse applications.
• Continued research is crucial for understanding its fundamental and applied aspects.
• This review synthesizes current knowledge on ICD.