Attosecond electron-spin dynamics in Xe 4d photoionization
Abstract
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.
- Publication:
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Nature Communications
- Pub Date:
- October 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1038/s41467-020-18847-1
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2005.12008
- Bibcode:
- 2020NatCo..11.5042Z
- Keywords:
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- Physics - Atomic Physics
- E-Print:
- doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18847-1