One-photon two-electron processes in helium: Unity and diversity

The ab initio HRM-SOW method has established itself as the ideally fit tool to explore the three-body dynamics of the helium atom close to its full break-up threshold. Accordingly, it is used here to perform a “numerical experiment” designed to enlighten the relations between the various competing processes which may occur in the vicinity of the double ionization threshold, be it double excitation, excitation-ionization, or double ionization. More precisely, double ionization and ionization-excitation cross-sections are produced at 100 meV above the double ionization threshold. The latter, obtained up to as high a level as n=50, are in addition analyzed in terms of spherical and parabolic partial waves in the photo-electron frame. Based on these extensive data, we establish a continuity relation between ionization-excitation and double ionization appropriate to the near threshold region, confirm previous qualitative predictions regarding the dominant angular momentum achieved in these near threshold excitation processes, evidence the relation between ionized-excited and doubly excited states, and promote the partial parabolic ionization-excitation cross-sections as the optimal observation channels of doubly excited states.