Evidence for interatomic Coulombic decay in Xe K-shell-vacancy decay of XeF2

Charge production, charge redistribution, and ion fragmentation are explored in the decay of a Xe K-shell vacancy in XeF2. Coincidence measurements of all ionic fragments in XeF2 provide evidence that an interatomic-Coulombic-decay-like (ICD-like) process plays a role in the cascade decay. The signature of the ICD-like process is an enhancement of the total number of electrons ejected as compared to the case of atomic Xe. The results indicate that the F atoms participate in the decay cascade within the first few femtoseconds after core-hole formation and that fragmentation begins during the decay process.