Current status of kinematically complete studies of basic fragmentation processes in atomic systems

Recent developments on kinematically complete experiments on basic atomic fragmentation processes are reviewed. Comparisons between theoretical and experimental fully differential cross sections for single ionization of light atoms by charged particle impact are analyzed. Furthermore, a method developed very recently, four-particle Dalitz plots, is discussed in context of double ionization. The extraordinary power of these plots is their capability to provide a comprehensive picture of the momentum exchange between all four final-state particles in a single spectrum.