We have used a multi-particle imaging technique (COLTRIMS) to observe the d
ouble ionization of rare gas atoms by multi-photon absorption of 800 nm (1.
5 eV) femto-second laser pulses and by single photon absorption (synchrotro
n radiation). Both processes are mediated by electron correlation. We discu
ss similarities and differences in the three-body final state momentum dist
ributions. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.