Dynamics of Ionization Processes Studied with the COLTRIMS Method - New Insight into e-e Correlation

Abstract

Many particle dynamics in atomic and molecular physics has been investigated by using the COLTRIMS method. The method and its power is discussed. The COLTRIMS technique visualizes many-particle fragmentation processes in the eV and sub milli-eV regime and reveals like the bubble chamber the complete momentum pattern in atomic and molecular particles reactions. Complete differential cross sections in momentum space have been measured for the transfer ionization channel in fast four-body (p+He→H°+He2++e) collisions. The correlated kinematical transfer ionization channel has been used to probe the highly correlated contributions to the asymptotic parts (high momenta and large nuclear impact parameters) of the He ground-state momentum wave function. In this reaction, one electron with selected initial momentum (2.5-7.5a.u.) in the He ground state is kinematically captured by the proton (tunneling through the two-center barrier). The measured three-particle final-state momentum distributions show well-structured patterns, which reflect special features of the three-particle initial-state momentum wave function.