ANISOTROPY AND POLARIZATION IN CHARGE-CHANGING COLLISIONS OF C4+ WITHNA(3S) AND LASER ALIGNED NA(3P)

Absolute cross sections for C3+(6-->5) emission at 465.7 nm after coll isions of C4+ ions with ground state Na(3s) and laser excited aligned Na(Sp) atoms are measured over the collision energy range of 3-7 keV a mu(-1). For Na(3s) polarizations are observed by measuring the linear polarization of the emitted light. In these collisions the polarizatio n is found to be 0.33 and almost independent of the collision energy. Cross sections for collisions with the Na(3p) target are up to five ti mes larger than for collisions with Na(3s). Slightly larger cross sect ions are measured when the laser excited Na(3p) target is Pi-aligned a s compared to a Sigma-alignment. Classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTM C) calculations agree excellently with the experimental findings and y ield predictions of strong positive polarizations for electron capture also from aligned Na(3p), indicating preferential capture to m(l) = 0 states.