Fivefold differential cross sections for electron-induced double ionization of isolated oriented water molecules are reported. The theoretical investigation is performed within the first Born approximation by describing the initial molecular state by means of single-center wave functions. The contributions of each final state to the double-ionization process, i.e., with target electrons ejected from similar and/or different molecular subshells, are studied and compared in terms of shape and magnitude. Furthermore, for the particular target orientations investigated, we identify clearly the signature of the main scenarios involved in (e,3e) reactions, namely, the shake-off and the two-step 1 mechanisms.

• Received 28 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.83.012708