Hyperfine structure in the angular distribution of electrons from autoionising states. II. Metastable states

Abstract

For pt.I see ibid., vol.13, p.1363 (1980). The angular distribution of electrons from autoionising states which decay via fine-structure and/or hyperfine-structure interaction has been analysed. In contrast to the familiar Coulomb autoionisation treated previously (Bruch and Klar 1980) metastable autoionising states pick up angular momentum from their non-scalar interaction with the final state continua. The angular distribution pattern has been expressed in terms of angular momentum transfer from the decay interaction to the emitted electron for the purpose of a quick identification of the decay mechanisms in the semiempirical analysis of experimental data. Partially unresolved substates of the decaying system manifest themselves as quantum beats provided the electrons are detected from time resolved. In general, however, the anisotropy coefficients of the angular distribution are no longer simply proportional to a time modulation factor.