Alignment and orientation of diatomic molecules induced by polarized electron impact

Abstract

We report measurements of linear and circular fluorescence polarizations for molecular transitions in H2, D2, and N2 induced by spin-polarized electron impact. Circular polarizations resulting from some Fulcher-α transitions in H2 and D2 are found to be significant, while the null results from nitrogen's second positive system are consistent with an earlier measurement by the Münster group. We compare this nitrogen data to that from our previous study of nitrogen's first negative system. Emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms that cause the values of circular polarization from N2 to be relatively small compared to those observed from H2 and D2 molecules. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.