Doubly excited coherent elliptic states (DECESs) of an atom could be produced by exciting an atomic electron to a Rydberg state, applying the adiabatic field-switching technique to obtain a coherent elliptic state (CES) and by subsequent excitation of an atomic core electron into a low-lying excited state. The DECESs decay by autoionization and radiative transitions. As an example, the autoionization widths are calculated for DECESs in He. The dependence of the widths on the eccentricity of the CES, principal quantum number of the Rydberg electron, orientation of the inner electron orbital and electron exchange is studied and interpreted.

• Received 24 January 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.062708