Spin polarization of Auger- and of photoelectrons from barium atoms exposed to circularly polarized radiation and their cross comparison

Abstract

New results of spin polarization of both photoelectrons and Auger electrons are reported after 5p photoionization of free Ba atoms with circularly polarized light. A substantial polarization transfer from the spin polarized photons to the spin polarized photoelectrons and via the hole state orientation to the spin polarized Auger-electrons is observed. The cross comparison of the results for photoelectrons and Auger-electrons allows a quantitative test of the assumed two step model where both electron-emission processes occur in sequence.