Multiple ionization of atoms with xuv attosecond pulses: Two-photon double ionization of helium with 50 eV photons

We consider two-photon double ionization of helium by two xuv photons in the region around the sequential ionization threshold. We show that, on the attosecond timescale, the mechanism for double ionization is dominated by the absorption of one photon by each electron in the fundamental state He(1s2). We examine the dynamics of two-photon double ionization of helium for an averaged photon energy ω = 50 eV, with a pulse duration of two optical cycles. The double ionization rate, energy and angular distributions are calculated by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Results are discussed on the basis of a model