Validity of the independent-particle approximation in x-ray photoemission: The exception, not the rule

Abstract

A combined experimental and theoretical study of argon valence photoionization illustrates the discovery of the broad lack of validity of the independent-particle approximation (IPA) for x-ray photoemission. In addition to previously known breakdowns of the IPA, which are limited to high photon energies and regions very near threshold, the observed breakdown in photoionization at intermediate energies demonstrates generally that the IPA is valid only in very restricted domains. These restrictions are expected to be relevant throughout the periodic table, with consequences for a wide variety of applications.