Abstract
The integrated Stokes parameters P1, P2, and P3 of Zn (43P0,1 – 53S1) fluorescence resulting from transversely-spin-polarized electron impact excitation of the Zn (4s5s)53S1 state have been measured. This work was motivated by similar studies reported several years ago, in which non-zero values of the integrated Stokes parameter P2 between the threshold for the (4s5s)53S1 excitation and the first cascading (4s5p)53PJ threshold were measured. We observe optical excitation functions in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical results, but find integrated P2 Stokes parameter values which are consistent with zero and inconsistent with those measured previously.
Highlights
In 2011, a group at the University of Western Australia (UWA) published a remarkable paper [1]
The term “integrated” when used to refer to Stokes parameters means that the scattered electrons are not detected
A polarized electron beam is crossed with an atomic Zn target beam
Summary
In 2011, a group at the University of Western Australia (UWA) published a remarkable paper [1]. A polarized electron beam is crossed with an atomic Zn target beam. The light emitted by an atom after excitation by electron impact in such an experiment is elliptically polarized. From symmetry arguments and the properties of Wigner 9-j coefficients, they concluded that a non-vanishing value of P2 can only be observed if spin-orbit effects during the collision are significant.
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