Spin-polarized electrons produced by a sequence of two femtosecond pulses. Calculation of differential and global polarization rates

Authors: Bouchene M.A.; Zamith S.; Girard B.

Source: Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Volume 34, Number 8, 2001 , pp. 1497-1512(16)

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Abstract:

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the possibilities of producing spin-polarized electrons with a sequence of two ultra-short time-delayed laser pulses. The first pulse, which is right circularly polarized, excites resonantly the fine structure np level of potassium atoms leading to a spin-flip and thus polarizing the atom. The second pulse ionizes the system thereby resulting in spin-polarized electron release. We examine and compare several situations corresponding to different polarizations of the ionizing pulse ( [iopmath latex="$\sigma^+, \sigma^- $"] ⁺,^- [/iopmath] and [iopmath latex="$ \pi $"] [/iopmath] ). For each case we derive analytical expressions for the angular and global electron spin-polarization rates as well as for the differential cross sections. The obtained rates can be very high (up to 100%) and can be controlled accurately on the femtosecond time scale by varying the time delay between the pulses.

Language: English

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Affiliations: 1: Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Publication date: 2001-01-01