The generalized geometrical model for the photoionization of polarized atoms: application to linear dichroism in the 2p photoemission from Na 3(2)S and Na*3(2)P initial states

Abstract

The generalized geometrical model utilized for the interpretation of photoelectron spectra is extended to the photoionization from polarized atoms. Within this model, the linear magnetic and the linear alignment dichroisms in the photoemission are calculated. The theoretical results are compared to those obtained from high-resolution angle-resolved photoelectron spectra, which were recorded upon 2p(-1) photoionization of sodium atoms oriented in the Na 2p(6)3s S-2(1/2) ground and Na* 2p(6)3p P-2(1/2) laser-excited states or aligned in the Na* 2p(6)3p P-2(3/2) state. Good overall agreement is found between theory and experiment.