| Abstract: | Polarization measurements of light emitted near 3889 Å from fast He atoms, resulting from near grazing collisions with an aluminum target by incident 1--9 keV He ⁺ ions are described. The polarization results were analyzed in terms of the Stokes' parameters, and related to the 3p ³ P₂, ₁, ₀ upper excited level anisotropy using orientation and alignment parameters. The results are compared to those of other researchers and are analyzed using a classical model of the charge capture process leading to circularly polarized radiation. The ion source, accelerator, vacuum system, and photon counting system that were designed and built for this research are described. |
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