Complete momentum analysis of multi-photon photo-double ionization of xenon by XUV and infrared photons

Photo-double ionization (PDI) of xenon by the Ti: Sapphire laser fundamental frequency combined to its 19th and 25th harmonics has been studied by means of a momentum imaging spectrometer. The measurement of the two emitted photoelectrons' momenta and their energy and angular correlations gives insight into the various mechanisms leading to PDI. Although the conditions for non-sequential direct photo-double ionization are fulfilled in the experiment, it is found that the two-step processes dominate.