Ultrafast Dynamics in Postcollision Interaction after Multiple Auger Decays in Argon 1s Photoionization

Argon 1s photoionization followed by multiple Auger decays is investigated both experimentally, by means of photoelectron-ion coincidences, and theoretically. A strong influence of the different Auger decays on the photoelectron spectra is observed through postcollision interaction which shifts the maximum of the energy distribution and distorts the spectral shape. A good agreement between the calculated and measured spectra for selected Arn+ ions (n = 1-5) allows one to estimate the widths (lifetimes) of the intermediate states for each specific decay pathway.