Localization of Inner-Shell Photoelectron Emission and Interatomic Coulombic Decay in Ne${}_2$

Abstract

We used Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) to investigate the decay of Ne${}_2$ after K-shell photoionization. The breakup into Ne${}^{1+}$ / Ne${}^{2+}$ shows interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) occurring after a preceding atomic Auger decay. The molecular frame angular distributions of the photoelectron and the ICD electron show distinct, asymmetric features, which imply localization of the K-vacancy created at one of the two atomic sites of the Ne${}_2$ and an emission of the ICD electron from a localized site. The experimental results are supported by calculations in frozen core Hartree-Fock approach.

4 pages, 4 figures