Coherence in Atomic Collision Physics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Electron Scattering from Heavy Atoms

   • K. Bartschat, P. G. Burke

   Pages 1-39

3. Spin Polarization in Electron-Atom Scattering

   • G. F. Hanne

   Pages 41-88

4. Electron Scattering from Chiral Molecules

   • K. Blum

   Pages 89-101

5. Applications of Lasers in Atomic Collision Physics

   • W. R. MacGillivray, M. C. Standage

   Pages 103-135

6. Excitation and Ionization in Atomic Collisions

   • Rainer Hippler

   Pages 137-170

7. Inner-Shell Vacancy Creation

   • Wolfgang Jitschin

   Pages 171-228

8. Excitation in Ion-Atom Collisions

   • Uwe Wille

   Pages 229-282

9. Coherence in Grazing Ion-Surface Collisions

   • H. Winter, R. Zimny

   Pages 283-319

10. The Two-Photon Decay of Atomic Hydrogen and Tests of Bell’s Inequality

    • A. J. Duncan

    Pages 321-346

11. Back Matter

    Pages 347-349

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During the last two decades the experimental investigation of atomic coherence phenomena has made rapid progress. Detailed studies have been performed of angular correlations, spin polarization effects, angular momen­ tum transfer, and the alignment parameters which characterize the charge cloud of excited atoms. The enormous growth in the number of these investigations was made possible through substantial development and application of new experimental technology, the development of sophisti­ cated theoretical models and numerical methods, and a fine interplay between theory and experiment. This interplay has resulted in a deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms of atomic collision processes. It is the purpose of the chapters in this book to provide introductions for nonspecialists to the various fields of this area as well as to present new experimental and theoretical results and ideas. The interest in spin-dependent interactions in electron-atom scattering has a long history; it dates back to the early investigations of Mott in 1929. While the more traditional measurements in this field were concerned with the determination of spin polarization and asymmetries, the range of investi­ gations has been expanded enormously during the last few years and now includes many observables sensitive to one or more of the various spin­ dependent interactions. The understanding of these effects requires a theoretical description of the orientation and alignment parameters of the target atoms, of the forma­ tion of resonances, of the influence of electron-exchange processes, and of the relativistic interactions inside the atom and between projectile and target.

• atomic collision
• collision
• excited atoms
• molecule
• scattering

• University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland

  H. J. Beyer

• University of Münster, Münster, Federal Republic of Germany

  K. Blum

• University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany

  R. Hippler

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