COLLISIONAL ALIGNMENT AND ORIENTATION OF ATOMIC OUTER SHELLS .3. SPIN-RESOLVED EXCITATION

The review generalizes the formalism of the first part of this series [N. Andersen, J.W. Gallagher and I.V. Hertel, Phys. Rep. 165 (1988) 1- 188] on electron-atom collisions to cases where the spin polarization of the electron is investigated at least once, i.e., before and/or aft er the collision. In addition, the target atom may be spin polarized. The preparation of initially polarized beams and/or the analysis of ph oton and spin polarization in the final state significantly increase t he number of cases where a ''perfect scattering experiment'' can be pe rformed. The connection between the scattering amplitudes and the gene ralized Stokes and STU parameters is analyzed. Favorable scattering ge ometries for perfect experiments and possibilities for consistency che cks are pointed out. Recommendations are made about directions of futu re work.