Circular polarization of the 3D state of atomic hydrogen excited by electrons

Kumar, M., Stelbovics, A.T. and Williams, J.F. (1999) Circular polarization of the 3D state of atomic hydrogen excited by electrons. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 26 (14). pp. 2165-2177.

Abstract

The theory of the circular polarization from the 32D state is analysed and angular correlation formulae are derived for the scattered n — 1 electron and the cascade Lyman-alpha radiation. The formulae include allowance for the polarization of the intermediate-state 2p electron from the LS coupling in the time evolution of the decay of the coiiisionally excited n = 32D states. The effect of a finite coincidence time window is also examined. The predictions of the model are compared with the model which assumes that the intermediate-state 2p electron is unpolarized. New experimental data at an incident electron kinetic energy of 54.4 eV are reported and indicate the circular polarization of the Lyman-alpha radiation has small negative values from 10° to 120°. The theoretical predictions of the correlation are illustrated in a six-state close-coupling model which gives a minimum at forward angles but does not agree quantitatively with the experimental data.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Centre for Atomic, Molecular and Surface Physics
Publisher:	Institute of Physics
Copyright:	© 1993 IOP Publishing Ltd.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/35790

Item Control Page