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Linear Polarization of Photons Emitted from Excited Hydrogen Atoms Formed above Metal Surfaces
Author(s) -
Kato D.,
Kenmotsu T.,
Ohya K.,
Tanabe T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
contributions to plasma physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0863-1042
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.201010071
Subject(s) - excited state , atomic physics , polarization (electrochemistry) , photon , physics , hydrogen , linear polarization , balmer series , dipole , electron , metal , molecular physics , optics , materials science , emission spectrum , chemistry , laser , quantum mechanics , spectral line , metallurgy
This paper presents theoretical results for linear polarization of Lyman‐α and Balmer‐α emission following single electron capture by hydrogen nuclei to excited levels above Mo surfaces. The polarization degrees are evaluated for photons from the hydrogen atoms outgoing along surface normal with translation velocities of 0.05‐1 au. In this geometry, the excited states are aligned with respect to the surface normal (quantization axis). Finite polarization degrees are obtained for electric‐dipole photons emitted at right angle to the surface normal; the linear polarization preferentially along the surface plane at lower translation velocities turns to the surface normal at higher velocities (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)