Abstract
We report the observation of double -vacancy production in x-ray photoionization of molybdenum. From these data we deduce the relative probabilities for production of double and single vacancies by photon impact at 50 keV and report the most precise measure of the ratio of double to single -vacancy production by photon impact in a heavy atom. That ratio provides an important probe of electron-electron correlations in high- atoms where theoretical descriptions must consider those correlations simultaneously with relativity. Our results suggest the need for theoretical treatments to properly deal with such systems.
- Received 17 March 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.508
©1999 American Physical Society