Two-proton relative momentum ($q_{pp}$) and opening angle ($theta_{pp}$) distributions from the three-body decay of two excited proton-rich nuclei, namely $^{23}$Al $rightarrow$ p + p + $^{21}$Na and $^{22}$Mg $rightarrow$ p + p + $^{20}$Ne, have bee
n measured with the projectile fragment separator (RIPS) at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory. An evident peak at $q_{pp}sim20$ MeV/c as well as a peak in $theta_{pp}$ around 30$^circ$ are seen in the two-proton break-up channel from a highly-excited $^{22}$Mg. In contrast, such peaks are absent for the $^{23}$Al case. It is concluded that the two-proton emission mechanism of excited $^{22}$Mg is quite different from the $^{23}$Al case, with the former having a favorable diproton emission component at a highly excited state and the latter dominated by the sequential decay process.
