Quantum coherence in the time-resolved Auger measurement

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Dec 19;91(25):253001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.253001. Epub 2003 Dec 15.

Abstract

We present a quantum mechanical model of the attosecond-XUV (extreme ultraviolet) pump and laser probe measurement of an Auger decay [Drescher et al., Nature (London) 419, 803 (2002)]] and investigate effects of quantum coherence. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation is solved by numerical integration and in analytic form. We explain the transition from a quasiclassical energy shift of the spectrum to the formation of sidebands and the enhancement of high- and low-energy tails of the Auger spectrum due to quantum coherence between photoionization and Auger decay.