POLARIZATION CORRELATIONS OF RADIATION FROM ELECTRON-IMPACT EXCITED ATOMS

A kinematic analysis of radiation from atoms or ions after electron-im pact excitation is carried out in a relativistic framework. The polari zation state of the radiation is related to that of the incident elect ron by considering rotation and parity symmetries. Kinematic formulas for angular distribution and polarization of the radiation are present ed in terms of angle-independent dynamic parameters. These dynamic par ameters are given as linear sums of reduced matrix elements suitable f or numerical computation. All electromagnetic multipole amplitudes are included in the calculation. Physical interpretations of the five ind ependent dynamic parameters in the electric dipole approximation are g iven.