Alignment effects in fast ion-atom collisions

Abstract

Angular distribution of Auger electrons and X-rays, and X-ray polarization in high energy ion-atom collisions, measured in the last few years, are reviewed. The excitation mechanisms of interest are the resonant and nonresonant transfer and excitation (RTE and NTE respectively), capture, ionization, excitation and transfer ionization. An alignment of the excited states formed through these excitation mechanisms is often observed and seems to be strongly dependent on the excitation mechanism.