NEAR-THRESHOLD STUDY OF THE POLARIZATION OF RARE-GAS RESONANCE RADIATION - NEON

The linear polarization of resonance vacuum-ultraviolet radiation emit ted by electron-impact excited Ne atoms has been measured in the energ y range from threshold to 21 eV. An electron resolution of 80 meV has enabled the effects of negative-ion resonances on the polarization fun ction to be examined in some detail. Predictions of the effects of neg ative-ion resonances on the observed polarizations have been made usin g a generalized Baranger-Gejuoy theory. Excitation via electron exchan ge is shown to be the dominant process very close to threshold.