Investigation of spin-orbit effects in the excitation of noble gases by spin-polarized electrons

Authors

J. E. Furst, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
W. M. K. P. Wijayaratna, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
D. H. Madison, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri
Timothy J. Gay, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

May 1993

Comments

Published in Phys. Rev. A 47, 3775 - 3787 (1993) [Issue 5 – May 1993]. ©1993 The American Physical Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

We have measured the integrated Stokes parameters of the light emitted following the impact excitation by polarized electrons of the np⁵ (n+1)p [5/2] ₃ states in Ne (n=2), Ar (n=3), Kr (n=4), Xe (n=5), and the np⁵ (n+1) p[5/2] ₂ state in Kr. The near-threshold linear-polarization fractions η1 were consistent with zero for all of the J=3 states measured, providing no evidence of Mott scattering. For J=2 excitation, η₁ shows the clear influence of the intermediately coupled nature of the state. At threshold, the measured circular polarization η₂ and linear polarization η₃ for the J=3 states agree well with the LS-coupled threshold predictions. These results provide the basis for optical measurements of electron polarization.