Double K-shell photoionization and universal scaling laws

The photon energy dependence of the double K-shell ionization cross sections for light atoms and He-like ions is reported. The K-shell double photoionization DPI cross-sections for hollow atom production are compared to those of the corresponding He-like counterparts. The relative contribution of the initial-state correlations and final-state electron-electron interactions to the K-shell DPI is addressed. A semiempirical universal scaling of the double photoionization cross sections with the effective nuclear charge for neutral atoms in the range 2 ≤ Z ≤ 47 is established.