CIRCULAR-DICHROISM IN THE POLARIZATION OF THE FLUORESCENCE RESULTING FROM THE DECAY OF PHOTOIONIZED CA ATOMS

Circular dichroism has been detected in the polarization of the fluore scence resulting from the decay of excited calcium ions. Synchrotron r adiation was used to both ionize and excite calcium atoms from their g round state, and the photoejected electron was detected in coincidence with the polarized fluorescent photon. By introducing a degree of lef t, then right circularly polarized light into the incident photon beam the circular dichroism could be measured. The analysis of the results was carried out using recent developments of the statistical tensor m ethod, and it was possible to determine the sign of the phase differen ce between the outgoing waves.