Autoionization distribution of atomic high doubly excited states: A "breathing spheres" approach

By means of a time-dependent method, we have calculated final ionic state distributions after the decay of laser-prepared atomic high doubly excited, mutually penetrating NLnl states. The calculation is simplified by using two nondispersive radial wave-packet wave functions with the initial condition [r(1)](NL)< [r(2)](nl) at (t = 0). Two decay processes have been investigated. The first is the autoionization of high doubly excited states (DES) with N less than or equal to n. Within our model it is described by two electrons moving like two "breathing" charge clouds exchanging energy until one of them escapes. The second decay process is the photoionization of the inner electron (N greater than or equal to 2n including E(N)less than or equal to 0), which leaves the final ion in a high Rydberg state. Our results are compared with data from experiments, in which DES an laser-prepared using isolated core excitation. [S1050-2947(99)00404-7].