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Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics

Complete determination of scattering amplitudes for a collisionally excited D state: Li(2s to 3d) excitation in Li-He collisions

H -P Neitzke, T. Andersen

Published Apr 28, 1984• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The possibility of a complete determination of the scattering amplitudes for a D state produced by a collisionally induced coherent S to D excitation is investigated. A polarisation analysis of the subsequent D to P dipole transition by the photon-particle coincidence method is not sufficient to completely determine the excitation amplitudes for the D state. Additional information can be obtained from collision experiments performed in the presence of symmetry-breaking electromagnetic fields. In the case of Li(3d 2 D), the combined action of an external magnetic field and the spin-orbit coupling has been utilised. The results of the first coincident level crossing experiment is reported, allowing an unambiguous determination of the excitation amplitudes for the Li(3d 2 D) state produced in Li-He collisions.

DOI
10.1088/0022-3700/17/8/017

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The possibility of a complete determination of the scattering amplitudes for a D state produced by a collisionally induced coherent S to D excitation is investigated. A polarisation analysis of the subsequent D to P dipole transition by the photon-particle coincidence method is not sufficient to completely determine the excitation amplitudes for the D state. Additional information can be obtained from collision experiments performed in the presence of symmetry-breaking electromagnetic fields. In the case of Li(3d 2 D), the combined action of an external magnetic field and the spin-orbit coupling has been utilised. The results of the first coincident level crossing experiment is reported, allowing an unambiguous determination of the excitation amplitudes for the Li(3d 2 D) state produced in Li-He collisions.
Collision-induced coherent S to D excitation is investigated. A polarisation analysis of the subsequent D to P transition by the photon-particle coincidence method is not sufficient to completely determine the excitation amplitudes for the D state. Two distinct solutions are obtained. The electron distributions associated with these two are mirror images of one another in the plane determined by the normal to the scattering plane and the direction of maximum intensity of linearly polarised light, as measured from the direction of the normal. The Li(2s to 3d) excitation induced by collisions with helium is studied both theoretically and experimentally in the keV energy range. The measurements confirm the existence of a theoretically predicted low-energy structure in the circular polarisation. The results are interpreted by generalising concepts previously developed for S to P excitation in quasi-one-electron systems.
An experimental investigation of electron - impact induced transitions from the laser - excited 3P state of sodium atom to the 4S and 3D excited states is presented, the main objective being measurement of the atomic collision parameters ( ACPs ) that are related to individual scattering amplitudes. These parameters are complementary to the differential excitation cross - sections and provide finer details on the collisional excitation process. The experiment involved the preparation of the 3P - state with coherent laser radiation of a particular polarisation and measuring the rate of electrons scattered from the laser - excited state as function of laser polarisations. The ACPs were then deduced from these measurements and optical pumping parameters, which account for the optical preparation of the 3P - state. To formulate different measurement schemes, a measurement theory based on the general description of transitions between states of different angular momentum using density matrix formalism is derived. The investigation of the 3P - 4S transition is very similar to the studies of the 3S - 3P excitation performed by superelastic method involving the 3P - 3S scattering in the 'time - inverse' geometry. 'Standard' ACPs are used and, similarly to the superelastic method, the measurements for the 3P - 4S excitation performed in the 'time - inverse' geometry also reveal ACPs for the 4S - 3P de -excitation process. For the more complex 3P - 3D transition, however, the 'standard' ACPs may be less informative. It is shown that certain sums of individual magnetic sublevel excitation probabilities can be measured which may be considered as atomic collision parameters for transitions between P and D - states.
The description of alignment and orientation for collisional excitation of atomic states by electron and heavy-particle impact, including electron transfer processes, is reviewed. For D states, a new parametrization of the excited atomic ensemble is proposed, and the density matrices describing the excited target state and the light emitted in a subsequent optical decay are expressed in terms of the new parameter set. Recipes for performing complete experiments through scattered-particle - multiple-photon coincidence set-ups are discussed. Because of the difficulties associated with such experiments, attention is also given to the generally incomplete case of scattered-particle - one-photon coincidence arrangements. For D-state excitation, it is demonstrated how the new set of parameters allows for a systematic description of the collision process, and provides opportunities for consistency checks.
The cross sections for the excitation energy transfer induced by collisions with He, Ar and Na ground-state atoms have been measured. The sodium atoms in the 4D state have been produced by two-photon excitation using cw laser radiation at 578.89 nm. Within a model which takes into account collisional population and depopulation of the 4F level as well as radiative relaxation (direct or cascade) of the 3D, 4P, 4D and 4F states ending in the 3P level, the rate for the collisional transfer turns out to be related to the ratio of the steady-state populations created in 3D and 4D states. They have been determined by measuring the fluorescence intensities of the and transitions. The measurements yield the following cross section values for those processes investigated: , and , at .
The mixing of state multipoles for an atomic state with unresolved fine structure in a magnetic field is investigated in its simplest case: the conversion of alignment to orientation. The combined action of the external field and the spin-orbit coupling results in a build-up of orientation and hence in the emission of circularly polarised light although the excitation process is axially symmetric and is invariant with respect to the reversal of the symmetry axis and thus the system could only show alignment initially. The case investigated is the collisional excitation of the He 3 3 D state by He + ions. After correction of some errors in the theoretical literature the agreement between the calculated and the observed circular polarisation of the fluorescence radiation from the collisionally excited He atoms is very good. Owing to possible objections in two previous experiments this is the first unambiguous demonstration of the alignment to orientation conversion effect.