There are two different ways the helium atom can be ionized.
Scientists have observed how quantum superpositions build up in a helium atom within femtoseconds. Just like the two paths through the plate in the double slit experiment, the ionization of helium can happen via 2 different processes at the same time, and this leads to characteristic interference effects. In the case of the helium atom, they are called “Fano resonances.” A team from TU Wien (Vienna), Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg and Kansas State University has now managed to observe the buildup up of these Fano resonances.
When a laser pulse transfers enough energy to one of the electrons in the helium atom, the electron is ripped out of the atom right away...
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