Chiral electron pairs from double photoionization

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Abstract
Double photoionization of a randomly oriented free atom by circularly polarized light produces photoelectron pairs with the ability to distinguish a right-handed coordinate frame from a left-handed one. This chirality, a new manifestation of electronic correlation, causes a circular dichroism in multiply differential cross sections. Necessary kinematical conditions for the observability of a finite chirality of a photoelectron pair are worked out and discussed. Results of numerical calculations for He and H- show the amount of circular dichroism to depend strongly: (i) on the choice of wavefunctions used, especially on the description of correlation, (ii) on the energy distribution of the photoelectrons, and (iii) on the light frequency. In particular, the authors have found a critical frequency where the dichroism changes sign. The threshold behaviour has been analysed within the frame of the Wannier-Peterkop-Rau theory.

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