Spin Effects in Atomic Collision Processes

Abstract

Spin-dependent atomic collision processes have first attracted attention in the field of electron-atom scattering. Shortly after Pauli’s introduction of the concept of the electron spin in quantum mechanics Mott1) developed the theory of production and detection of spin-polarized electrons by including spin-orbit interactions in the scattering process. Massey and Mohr2) extended this theory by introducing screening effects in the Mott scattering. “Mott scattering” results in measurable scattering asymmetries at large energies (⪆ 100 keV) and for heavy atoms when energetic electrons approach the nucleus after passing the electronic shells. At lower electron energies and with screening effects included considerable spin effects occur which were first predicted by Massey and Mohr2) and detected by Deichsel3) and Reichert4). Since then spin effects in electron-atom collisions have been widely reported in literature5). Investigations on spin effects in ion-atom or atom-atom collisions, however, are very scarce.