Time-Dependent Theory of Angular Correlations in Sequential Double Ionization

In this work, we emphasize the importance of the bound-state dynamics to the two-electron ejection in double ionization processes. The conclusions of the present study are pertinent to all excitation or decay processes that proceed via well-defined intermediate states. A general strong-field time-dependent density matrix theory is established and applied to the case of neon, allowing us to analyze the role of the ionizing field in the interpretation of reported angular patterns [M. Kurka et al., J. Phys. B 42, 141002 (2009); A. S. Kheifets, J. Phys. B 42, 134016 (2009)] and in the dynamic ionic alignment. The present analysis reveals that short-pulse coherent excitation of the neon ionic doublet P-2(1/2,3/2) leads to quantum beats in the two-electron angular correlation patterns.