The breaking of the backward-forward symmetry in the angular distribution of m(j)-selected photofragments

We present calculations on the angular distributions of m(j)-selected photo fragments (with m(j) being the projection of the fragments' internal angula r momentum on a space-fixed z-axis). We show that the proper analysis of su ch experiments [based on G. G. Balint-Kurti and M. Shapiro, Chem. Phys. 61, 137 (1981)], involves coherent lambda not equal lambda' terms (with lambda -the "helicity"-being the projection of the fragment angular momentum on th e recoil direction). The involvement of these coherent terms leads, amongst other things, to the creation of "orientation," i.e., the backward-forward asymmetry, in the fragments' angular distributions. Thus we demonstrate th at the detection of polarization in one (internal) variable-the internal ro tation, creates a correlated orientation in another (external) variable-the recoil angular distribution. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics.