Circular polarization of ion fluorescence completing the analysis of resonant Xe* 4d(-1)(5/2)6p Auger decay

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Jan 17;90(2):023002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.023002. Epub 2003 Jan 15.

Abstract

The relative contributions of the partial electron waves emitted in the Auger decay of the Xe* 4d(-1)(5/2)6p(J(*)=1) resonance have been determined by fluorescence polarimetry after excitation with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. The analysis of circularly polarized fluorescence of the photoion leads to an independent determination of the orientation parameters for all states of the Xe II 5p(4)6p multiplet. The present study provides, in combination with data on the angular distribution and spin polarization of the Auger electrons, complete quantum mechanical information on the resonant Auger decay, i.e., branching ratios and relative phases of the Auger decay amplitudes.