Spin correlations in photodetachment

Abstract

Successive stages of a photoemission process are examined with regard to their influence on the spin correlation between the escaping electron and the residue. The process $hv+{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{K}(4p^{2}P)+e$ is studied but its treatment has general application. Unresolved fine structures in the residue's spectrum affect this correlation not only near the emission threshold but also by introducing interference beats with long wavelength along the escape trajectory. A coincidence experiment which observes spin polarization simultaneously with the polarized atomic fluorescence should display this interference pattern.