Single photon double ionization of the helium dimer

Abstract

We show that a single photon can ionize the two helium atoms of the helium dimer in a distance up to 10 °A. The energy sharing among the electrons, the angular distributions of the ions and electrons as well as comparison with electron impact data for helium atoms suggest a knock-off type double ionization process. The Coulomb explosion imaging of He_2 provides a direct view of the nuclear wave function of this by far most extended and most diffuse of all naturally existing molecules.

10 pages, 5 figures