Electron scattering from optically pumped sodium atoms

Abstract

A superelastic electron-scattering technique is described in which electrons are scattered from optically pumped sodium atoms. The scattering parameters derived from these experiments are shown to provide a sensitive and dynamic description of the excited 32P state of the sodium atom. These parameters are compared with those derived from electron-photon coincidence experiments which are the time reversed equivalent of the present experiments. Although the present results agree with the previous data, the much larger kinematic range of the present work indicates that optical pumping will be the technique of choice for future measurements. The parameters are also compared with those predicted ..