Superelastic scattering with imperfect laser polarization

Abstract

The formalism applied to superelastic electron scattering from laser-excited atoms has to date assumed perfect polarization of the laser light. We consider the effects of imperfect polarization, deriving an expression for the superelastic scattering rate from target atoms optically pumped with elliptically polarized light, and show how imperfect polarization effects can be measured and minimized under experimental conditions. In particular, we find that in measuring the scattering for linearly polarized light with a small circular component, the errors are proportional to the undesired circular polarization component and to [Formula Presented], the scattering sensitivity to circular light. W..