[en] We demonstrate that the classical helium atom exhibits algebraic decay of the survival probability in the autoionizing eZe configuration. Excitation towards asymptotic orbits of marginal stability is identified as the cause of the nonexponential decay. Since one electron travels along a bound Kepler trajectory of infinite excitation in these orbits, we argue that the classical decay law will prevail in the quantum dynamics of a wave packet launched along the eZe configuration.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Schlagheck, Peter ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique quantique statistique
Buchleitner, A.
Language :
English
Title :
Algebraic decay of the survival probability in chaotic helium
Publication date :
2001
Journal title :
Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
ISSN :
1050-2947
eISSN :
1094-1622
Publisher :
American Physical Society, College Park, United States - Maryland
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