Triple coincidence experiment to explore the two-electron continuum states of the projectile resulting from mutual ionization in 100-keV He0 + He collisions.

The existence of the two-electron cusp in atomic collisions, i.e., the enhanced emission of two electrons in the forward direction with velocities equal to that of the projectile, has been investigated experimentally. Using a time-of-flight technique, the energies of the two electrons resulting from the simultaneous target and projectile ionization in 100-keV He(0)+He collisions have been measured by detecting triple coincidence between the electrons and the outgoing He(+) ion. The coincidence yield clearly shows a peak as a function of the electron energies at the expected cusp position. Furthermore, a strong correlation was found between the energies of the two electrons, which is traced back to an angular correlation of 180 degrees in the projectile-centered reference system.