First prediction of inter-Coulombic decay of C₆₀ inner vacancies through the continuum of confined atoms

Considering the photoionization of Ar@$C_{60}$ and Kr@$C_{60}$ endofullerenes, the decay of $C_{60}$ innershell excitations through the outershell continuum of the confined atom via the inter-Coulombic decay (ICD) pathway is detailed. Excitations to atom-$C_{60}$ hybrid states, when these states exist, can induce coherence between ICD and electron-transfer mediated decay (ETMD). This should be the dominant above-threshold decay process for a variety of confined systems, and the strength of these resonances is such that they should be amenable for study by photoelectron spectroscopy. (letter)