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Physical Review

Polarization of Light from e−−He Collisions

Edward A. Soltysik, A. Fournier, R. L. Gray

Published Jan 5, 1967• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The polarization of light resulting from the excitation of helium by electron impact has been measured as a function of electron energy. We report here our results in the energy threshold region for the following transitions: $3 ^{1}P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{1}S (\ensuremath{\lambda}=5016 \mathrm{\AA{}})$, $3 ^{3}P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{3}S (\ensuremath{\lambda}=3889 \mathrm{\AA{}})$, and $4 ^{1}D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{1}P (\ensuremath{\lambda}=4922 \mathrm{\AA{}})$. The results reported here are in substantial agreement with the results previously reported by McFarland. Also, no dependence of the polarization on the magnetic field parallel to the electron beam was observed.

DOI
10.1103/physrev.153.152

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For the mercury 6s6p 1 P 1 and 6s6p 3 P 1 states excited by electron impact, the linear polarization of the light emitted in the transition to the ground state has been measured from threshold to intermediate energy for the decay photons of 254 and 185 nm wavelength, respectively. The results for both lines are in surprisingly good agreement with a calculation based on the Born-Ochkur approximation, neglecting spin-orbit terms for the continuum electron but allowing for electron exchange effects and intermediate coupling.

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On the excitation of polarised light by electron impact. II.—Mercury

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Abstract In a number of recent papers descriptions have been given of how the light from atoms excited by a directed stream of electrons is polarised, in the absence of any external field of force. In particular we may refer to the paper by one of the present writers (Paper I), where some of the characteristics of the effect in mercury were discussed. It was found that the different lines of the spectrum were differently polarised, both in magnitude and direction. The behaviour of the polarisation when a magnetic field is applied to the mercury atoms was found to be identical with the effect produced by a similar field on the polarisa­tion when the light is excited by the absorption of plane polarised light, the electric vector of which is parallel to the direction of the stream of electrons. In this way, the polarisation of the light excited by electron impact was shown to be closely related to the polarisation of resonance radiation, which had been investigated by Wood and Ellett and others. In the paper referred to, the measurement of the polarisation of the spectral lines was, except in an individual instance, only qualitative. Since its appearance two papers have appeared in which polarisation measurements of the mercury lines excited by electron impact have appeared. Eldridge and Olsen gave qualitative results, and these confirmed those which we had given. Quarder gives quantitative measure­ments which are also for the most part in general accord. The aim of the present paper is to describe quantitative results, and, as will be seen, these are not in all cases in detailed agreement with those given by Quarder. The second aim is to determine the variation of the polarisation with the velocity of the electron stream, a point which has not been previously attempted. In Paper I it was shown that the magnitude of the polarisation is intimately connected with the dynamics of the collision process. By the electron impact, the atom is raised from its normal state into an upper quantum state, and by its return into the normal state, or into another state, light is emitted. The magnitude of the polarisation depends on both of these processes, but the second process, the actual emission of the light, is well understood. Polarisation measurements therefore give a powerful means of investigating the collision of an electron with an atom in the case when excitation of the atom takes place, and it is in this that their main interest lies.

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Polarization of Radiation Excited by Electron Impact

A. Ellett, Paul D. Foote, Fred L. Mohler

Polarized radiation following electron impact.---If a unidirectional beam of electrons, of velocity slightly in excess of the resonance potential, is projected through a vapor at a very low pressure so that effects due to atomic collision and resonance radiation are negligible, and in the absence of an applied field and resulting Larmor precession, there is reason to suspect that the radiation emitted perpendicular to the electron beam should be partially polarized, especially for lines corresponding to $\ensuremath{\Delta}j=1$.Polarization in mercury and sodium vapor.---Experiment showed a polarization of about 30 percent for $\ensuremath{\lambda}2537$ with the greatest intensity of the electrical vibration having a direction perpendicular to the electron beam. No polarization was detected for the unresolved sodium D-lines, confirming the recent observation of Kossel and Gerthsen.Polarization in mercury with field of 3 gauss.---A field parallel to the electron beam produced no effect. With the field perpendicular to the beam the radiation along the field was unpolarized while that perpendicular to the field was reduced in polarization to 13 percent. These results suggest that the atom radiates with the same distribution of polarization and intensity as in zero field but with the atom rotated through an angle determined by the time of excitation and the precessional velocity.

Physical Review•Jan 1, 1926•19 citations
The polarization of light resulting from the excitation of helium by electron impact has been measured as a function of electron energy. We report here our results in the energy threshold region for the following transitions: 31P\ensuremath→21S(\ensuremathλ=5016A˚)3 ^{1}P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{1}S (\ensuremath{\lambda}=5016 \mathrm{\AA{}})31P\ensuremath→21S(\ensuremathλ=5016A˚), 33P\ensuremath→23S(\ensuremathλ=3889A˚)3 ^{3}P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{3}S (\ensuremath{\lambda}=3889 \mathrm{\AA{}})33P\ensuremath→23S(\ensuremathλ=3889A˚), and 41D\ensuremath→21P(\ensuremathλ=4922A˚)4 ^{1}D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2 ^{1}P (\ensuremath{\lambda}=4922 \mathrm{\AA{}})41D\ensuremath→21P(\ensuremathλ=4922A˚). The results reported here are in substantial agreement with the results previously reported by McFarland. Also, no dependence of the polarization on the magnetic field parallel to the electron beam was observed.
For the mercury 6s6p 1 P 1 and 6s6p 3 P 1 states excited by electron impact, the linear polarization of the light emitted in the transition to the ground state has been measured from threshold to intermediate energy for the decay photons of 254 and 185 nm wavelength, respectively. The results for both lines are in surprisingly good agreement with a calculation based on the Born-Ochkur approximation, neglecting spin-orbit terms for the continuum electron but allowing for electron exchange effects and intermediate coupling.
Abstract In a number of recent papers descriptions have been given of how the light from atoms excited by a directed stream of electrons is polarised, in the absence of any external field of force. In particular we may refer to the paper by one of the present writers (Paper I), where some of the characteristics of the effect in mercury were discussed. It was found that the different lines of the spectrum were differently polarised, both in magnitude and direction. The behaviour of the polarisation when a magnetic field is applied to the mercury atoms was found to be identical with the effect produced by a similar field on the polarisa­tion when the light is excited by the absorption of plane polarised light, the electric vector of which is parallel to the direction of the stream of electrons. In this way, the polarisation of the light excited by electron impact was shown to be closely related to the polarisation of resonance radiation, which had been investigated by Wood and Ellett and others. In the paper referred to, the measurement of the polarisation of the spectral lines was, except in an individual instance, only qualitative. Since its appearance two papers have appeared in which polarisation measurements of the mercury lines excited by electron impact have appeared. Eldridge and Olsen gave qualitative results, and these confirmed those which we had given. Quarder gives quantitative measure­ments which are also for the most part in general accord. The aim of the present paper is to describe quantitative results, and, as will be seen, these are not in all cases in detailed agreement with those given by Quarder. The second aim is to determine the variation of the polarisation with the velocity of the electron stream, a point which has not been previously attempted. In Paper I it was shown that the magnitude of the polarisation is intimately connected with the dynamics of the collision process. By the electron impact, the atom is raised from its normal state into an upper quantum state, and by its return into the normal state, or into another state, light is emitted. The magnitude of the polarisation depends on both of these processes, but the second process, the actual emission of the light, is well understood. Polarisation measurements therefore give a powerful means of investigating the collision of an electron with an atom in the case when excitation of the atom takes place, and it is in this that their main interest lies.
Helium atoms excited to an aligned (1s3d)3{)}^{3})3D state are produced by electron impact parallel to a magnetic field. The initial alignment of the atomic state evolves into an orientation with finite angular momentum along the magnetic field direction and thus gives rise to a circularly polarized component in the (1s3d)3{)}^{3})3D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(1s2p)3{)}^{3})3P radiation propagating parallel to the magnetic field. Circular-polarization fractions of a few percent are observed, in general agreement with theory. The measured polarization fraction is found to be pressure dependent, indicating that secondary excitation and cascade processes must be included for a complete description.
A beam of unpolarized electrons is crossed at right angles with a beam of partially polarized sodium or potassium atoms (degree of polarization P A approximately=21%) and resonance lines from the excited 2 P 3/2, 1/2 states are observed in a direction perpendicular to both the atom and electron beams for electron energies from threshold to 200 eV. The polarization of the emitted photons is measured in the form of the Stokes parameters P 1 , P 2 and P 3 . The present measurements for sodium atoms are in better agreement with the theoretical values than the previously published experimental results. No other experimental or theoretical results are available for potassium atoms.
Polarized radiation following electron impact.---If a unidirectional beam of electrons, of velocity slightly in excess of the resonance potential, is projected through a vapor at a very low pressure so that effects due to atomic collision and resonance radiation are negligible, and in the absence of an applied field and resulting Larmor precession, there is reason to suspect that the radiation emitted perpendicular to the electron beam should be partially polarized, especially for lines corresponding to $\ensuremath{\Delta}j=1$.Polarization in mercury and sodium vapor.---Experiment showed a polarization of about 30 percent for $\ensuremath{\lambda}2537$ with the greatest intensity of the electrical vibration having a direction perpendicular to the electron beam. No polarization was detected for the unresolved sodium D-lines, confirming the recent observation of Kossel and Gerthsen.Polarization in mercury with field of 3 gauss.---A field parallel to the electron beam produced no effect. With the field perpendicular to the beam the radiation along the field was unpolarized while that perpendicular to the field was reduced in polarization to 13 percent. These results suggest that the atom radiates with the same distribution of polarization and intensity as in zero field but with the atom rotated through an angle determined by the time of excitation and the precessional velocity.