SPIN POLARIZATION IN THE DOUBLE PHOTOIONIZATION OF ATOMS

In this paper we develop a theoretical framework for studying spin pol arization of one or both of the two electrons emitted in the one-photo n, one-step, double ionization of an atom. The expressions derived her ein are in the form of an incoherent sum over the angular momentum j(t ) exchanged between the unobserved initial and final angular momenta. It then naturally facilitates an analysis of spin-resolved double-phot oionization processes in terms of the parity-favored and -unfavored tr ansitions. Several photon-propagation and electron-detection configura tions are considered in which it becomes simpler to study the angular- spin or spin-spin correlation between two photoelectrons. The approach suggested in this paper has been used to analyze spin-resolved double photoionization in the 6s(2) subshell of atomic ytterbium.