Polarization and alignment transfer in heavy hydrogen-like ions following radiative electron capture

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2005-07, Vol.235 (1-4), p.276-279
• Main Authors: Surzhykov, A., Fritzsche, S., Sepp, W.-D., Stöhlker, Th, Muthig, A. Oršic̀
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydrogen-like ions; Radiative cascades; Radiative electron capture; Spin-polarized electrons; X-ray polarization
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2005.03.189

The radiative capture of spin-polarized electrons into the excited states of bare, highly-charged ions is studied within the framework of Dirac’s relativistic theory. Special emphasis is placed on the magnetic sublevel population of the 2p3/2 states following both, the direct electron capture and the cascade feeding from high-lying levels. Computations are performed in order to explore how this sublevel population depends on the energy of the projectile ion as well as on the spin-polarization of the electron target. In particular, we show that the orientation A1 of the 2p3/2 state is sensitive to the electron polarization and, hence, may be used for determining the polarization properties of either the electron target or projectile ions.