Excitation and decay dynamics of 1s2s inner-shell double-vacancy states of neon atoms

The photo-excitation and Auger decay processes of inner-shell double vacancy states 1s2s2p^6（1,3^S）3s3p of neutral neon atoms have been studied theoretically. Multi-configuration Dirac-Fock （MCDF） calculations have been carried out, with electron correlation effects taken into consideration. The relaxation of core and excited orbitals and configuration interaction are found to be crucial to creating the double vacancy states by single photo-absorption. The predominant decay paths for the double vacancy states turn out to be of the LLM Auger decay to 1s 2s^22p^53s（3p）, KLL Auger decay to 1s^22s2p^43s3p, and KLM Auger decay to 1s^22p^63s（3p）. They lead to further Auger decay, creating the neon ions of multiple charge states. For both double and single vacancy states the spectator type of Auger process is dominated in all the Auger decay processes. Theoretical Anger electron spectra are presented for further investigations, experimental and theoretical.     

Single and double Auger decay of 4f-ionized mercury including cascade and direct processes

Single(SA) and double(DA) Auger decay including cascade and direct processes are investigated for Hg 4 f~(-1) with multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock method and two-step approaches, i.e., knockout and shakeoff mechanisms. Due to the computational effort, only the major transitions are considered to describe the SA and DA decays for the Hg+ions with complex electronic configurations. In order to estimate the Auger transition energies and amplitudes, the reference configuration sets producing the configuration state functions are carefully chosen for balancing electron correlations among the successive singly, doubly and triply ionized mercury. The Auger rates and electron spectra, DA probabilities as well as the populations of the final Hg~(3+)states are obtained. Our results well explain the recent experimental data about the 4 f hole states of Hg[Palaudoux J et al., Phys. Rev. A 91 012513(2015)], and could provide guidance for further studies on complex atoms.Particularly for the DA decay, the contributions of the direct processes, which are neglected in their calculations, are found to be important, accounting for as high as about 38% and 34% of the total DA decays for the 4 f_(7/2)~(-1) and 4 f_(5/2)~(-1), respectively.     

KLn Dielectronic Recombination Process of B- Through He-like Cu Ions

The KLn dielectronic recombination processes of trapped highly charged B-like through He-like Cu ions are studied theoretically, and the theoretical results are used to analyse our previous experimental data at Heidelberg electron beam ion trap （EBIT）. The theoretical resonant positions agree with the experimental resonant positions to a precision of 0.4%, in comparison with the resonant positions of those highest peaks between theory and experiment. The experimental spectra are then fitted using a formula with the theoretical resonant energies and strengths, the result shows good overall agreement between theory and experiment over a wide electron energy range. The distribution of highly charged states is obtained from the fitting parameters.     

Effective field theory approach to lepton number violating τ decays

We continue our endeavor to investigate lepton number violating(LNV) processes at low energies in the framework of effective field theory(EFT).In this work we study the LNV tau decays τ~+→l~-P_i~+P_j~+,where l=e,μand P_(i,j)~+denote the lowest-lying charged pseudoscalars π~+,K~+.We analyze the dominant contributions in a series of EFTs from high to low energy scales,namely the standard model EFT(SMEFT),the low-energy EFT(LEFT),and the chiral perturbation theory(χPT).The decay branching ratios are expressed in terms of the Wilson coefficients of dimension-five and-seven operators in SMEFT and the hadronic low-energy constants.These Wilson coefficients involve the first and second generations of quarks and all generations of leptons;thus,they cannot be explored in low-energy processes such as nuclear neutrinoless double beta decay or LNV kaon decays.Unfortunately,the current experimental upper bounds on the branching ratios are too weak to set useful constraints on these coefficients.Alternatively,if we assume the new physics scale is larger than 1 TeV,the branching ratios are well below the current experimental bounds.We also estimate the hadronic uncertainties incurred in applying χPT to τ decays by computing one-loop chiral logarithms and attempt to improve the convergence of chiral perturbation by employing dispersion relations in the short-distance part of the decay amplitudes.     

ASYMMETRY PARAMETERS AND DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS FOR PHOTOIONIZATION-EXCITATION OF HELIUM

Asymmetry parameter β₂ for photoionization of helium leaving the He⁺ ion in the n=2 level and differential cross sections(DCSs) in the n=2,3,4 levels with photon emission angle θ=90⁰ are provided at photon energies 69-76.8 eV employing the R-matrix method with a 20-term target representation, in which five polarization orbitals \bar{6}l are included. The asymmetry parameter β₂ and the DCS, in the n=2 level in the region of 69-73 eV, are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical results. Above the n=3 threshold, we present new theoretical results along with measurements. No theoretical and experimental results can be used to compare with the present calculations of the DCSs for photoionization into the He⁺ ion in the n=3,4 levels.     

Semileptonic decays B/Bs→(D?,D?s)lνl in the PQCD approach with the lattice QCD input

We study the semileptonic B/Bs→(D^?,D^?s)lνl decays in the framework of the Standard Model(SM),by employing the perturbative QCD(PQCD)factorization formalism combined with the lattice QCD input for the relevant transition form factors.We calculate the branching ratios B(B(s)→D^?(s)lνl)with l=(e,μ,τ),the ratios of the branching fractions R(D^?)and R(D^?s),and the physical observables Pτ(D^?(s)),FL(D?(s))and AFB(τ).The“PQCD+Lattice”predictions for B(B→D^?lνl)and R(D^?)agree with the available experimental measurements within errors.For the ratios R(Ds)and R(D^?s),the"PQCD+Lattice"predictions agree with the other predictions.For Pτ(D^?)and FL(D^?),our theoretical predictions agree with the measured values within errors.Our theoretical predictions of the semileptonic B/Bs decays considered could be tested in the near future by the LHCb and Belle II experiments.     

THE MULTIPLE IONIZATION OF ARGON INDUCED BY PARTIALLY STRIPPED CARBON IONS

The cross section ratios of the double, triple and quadruplicate ionization to the single ionization of argon by 1.5-7.5 MeV partially stripped carbon ions are measured by using time-of-flight technique. The Auger transition and the charge exchange process in the multiple ionization of argon are studied. The ratios of cross sections of the direct multiple ionization to those of the direct single ionization are obtained by subtracting the parts of the Auger transition and the charge exchange process from the measured data. It is found that the cross section ratios of the direct multiple ionization to those of the direct single ionization are in good agreement with the predicted mniti-step (ν/q_eff)^-2n+2 law.     

Mechanism of laser-induced plasma shock wave evolution in air

A theoretical model is proposed to describe the mechanism of laser-induced plasma shock wave evolution in air. To verify the validity of the theoretical model, an optical beam deflection technique is employed to track the plasma shock wave evolution process. The theoretical model and the experimental signals are found to be in good agreement with each other. It is shown that the laser-induced plasma shock wave undergoes formation, increase and decay processes; the increase and the decay processes of the laser-induced plasma shock wave result from the overlapping of the compression wave and the rarefaction wave, respectively. In addition, the laser-induced plasma shock wave speed and pressure distributions, both a function of distance, are presented.     

Rare semileptonic decays of heavy mesons in the heavy quark limit

We study the branching ratios of D^＋ → D^0e^＋ν, Ds^＋ → D^0e^＋ν, Bs^0→B^＋e^-^-ν, Ds^＋→D^＋e^-e^＋ and Bs^0→B^0e^-e^＋ rare semileptonic decay processes, which are induced by decays of light quarks, the heavy quarks remain unchanged. The branching ratios of these decay processes are estimated in the heavy quark limit and with SU（3） flavor symmetry. We find that the decay rates are very tiny in the framework of the Standard Model. We also estimate the sensitivities of the measurements of these rare decays at the future experiments, such as BES-Ⅲ, super-B and LHC-b. Observations of these decays may shed some light on new physics beyond the standard model.     

Rare semileptonic decays of heavy mesons in the heavy quark limit

We study the branching ratios of D+→D0e+ν,DS+→D0e+ν,BS0→B+e-ν,DS+→D+e-e+ and BS0→B0e-e+ rare semileptonic decay processes,which are induced by decays of light quarks,the heavy quarks remain unchanged.The branching ratios of these decay processes are estimated in the heavy quark limit and with SU(3) flavor symmetry.We find that the decay rates are very tiny in the framework of the Standard Model.We also estimate the sensitivities of the measurements of these rare decays at the future experiments,such as BES-Ⅲ,super-B and LHC-b.Observations of these decays may shed some light on new physics beyond the standard model.     

Laser-enabled Auger decay in rare-gas atoms

In rare-gas atoms, Auger decay in which an inner-valence shell ns hole is filled is not energetically allowed. However, in the presence of a strong laser field, a new laser-enabled Auger decay channel can open up to increase the double-ionization yield. This process is efficient at high laser intensities, where an ns hole can be filled within a few femtoseconds of its creation. This novel laser-enabled Auger decay process is of fundamental importance for controlling electron dynamics in atoms, molecules, and materials.     

Multiple Auger Decay Following Xe~+(4p_(3/2)~(-1)) Ionization

The Auger decay for the many-electron Xe~+(4p_(3/2)~(-1)) state is studied in detail,using multistep approaches.It is found that the single Auger decay channels are primarily Coster-Kronig processes,which is in accord with other theoretical and experimental results.The double and triple Auger decays result primarily from cascade processes,i.e.,the sequential two-step and three-step Auger decay,and as such,the contributions from direct processes can be neglected.Level-to-level rates for single,double,and triple decays are obtained,based on which comprehensive Auger electron spectra and ion yields are obtained.Our decay paths and Auger electron spectra are in agreement with the experimental analysis [Hikosaka et al.,Phys.Rev.A 76(2007) 032708],and our ion yield ratios(Xe~(2+):Xe~(3+):Xe~(4+)=4.6:87.0:8.4) are also in line with their values(5.0:86.0:9.0).However,with respect to the ion yield ratios,a discrepancy still remains among the experimental and theoretical results.Taking into account the complexity of Xe's electronic structure,further,more detailed experiments are still required.     

Time-resolved Auger decay in CsBr using high harmonics

The temperature-dependent decay dynamics of innershell holes in CsBr was measured by using high harmonics. The measured lifetime was as short as 1.5 ps at 340 K due to increasing the Auger-allowed final state density in the Urbach exciton tail, whereas it is 1.1 ns at 10 K, determined by radiative recombination. The temperature-dependent Auger lifetime extrapolated to a high temperature corresponds to the fully energy-allowed Auger decay. In the model to be presented, this yields an interatomic Auger decay lifetime of 2.4+3.8/-1.5 fs, in line with a theoretical calculation for NaF.     

Photoemission studies of core exciton decay in KI

The decay of K⁺ 3p-core excitons in KI was studied by using new methods for obtaining photoemission spectroscopy data with synchrotron radiation. The Auger and non-radiative direct-recombination decay processes are separately identified in the data and a measure for the Auger energy distribution is obtained.     

Circular polarization of ion fluorescence completing the analysis of resonant Xe* 4d(-1)(5/2)6p Auger decay

The relative contributions of the partial electron waves emitted in the Auger decay of the Xe* 4d(-1)(5/2)6p(J(*)=1) resonance have been determined by fluorescence polarimetry after excitation with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. The analysis of circularly polarized fluorescence of the photoion leads to an independent determination of the orientation parameters for all states of the Xe II 5p(4)6p multiplet. The present study provides, in combination with data on the angular distribution and spin polarization of the Auger electrons, complete quantum mechanical information on the resonant Auger decay, i.e., branching ratios and relative phases of the Auger decay amplitudes.     

Quantum coherence in the time-resolved Auger measurement

We present a quantum mechanical model of the attosecond-XUV (extreme ultraviolet) pump and laser probe measurement of an Auger decay [Drescher et al., Nature (London) 419, 803 (2002)]] and investigate effects of quantum coherence. The time-dependent Schr?dinger equation is solved by numerical integration and in analytic form. We explain the transition from a quasiclassical energy shift of the spectrum to the formation of sidebands and the enhancement of high- and low-energy tails of the Auger spectrum due to quantum coherence between photoionization and Auger decay.     

Double Auger decay of A 3d vacancy in Krypton

All possible channels of double Auger decay of a 3d vacancy in a Kr atom are investigated using perturbation theory in a basis of Hartree-Fock wave functions. The energy spectrum of the Auger electrons and the total decay width are calculated. The role of model decay mechanisms is discussed, along with the importance of taking correlation interactions into account. Tomsk Polytechnic University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 54–63, October, 1998.     

Stress dependent kinetics of electron-hole drops in uniaxially deformed silicon

The decay of electron-hole drops in silicon is studied as a function of uniaxial stress applied along the <111 > and <100 > crystallographic directions. For <111 > stress, the decay kinetics can be explained in terms of Auger recombination. In contrast, for <100 > stress, the experimental decay is consistent with a model of free exciton evaporation from droplets rather than Auger recombination.     

Stability of ionically bonded surfaces in ionizing environments

We present criteria for the stability of ionic materials in ionizing environments, confining ourselves to cases where the core hole Auger decay mechanism of Knotek and Feibelman is applicable. The main result is that Auger induced decomposition will not occur unless the cation species in the solid is ionized down to a relatively deep filled shell. This shell must be sufficiently deep that an Auger decay starting from it will release the energy necessary for decomposition. The degree to which covalency in bonding affects stability is discussed. We show how these concepts can be applied by examination of the periodic table and a table of electron binding energies.