title: Spin-polarized hydrogen Rydberg time-of-flight: experimental measurement of the velocity-dependent H atom spin-polarization.
abstract: We have developed a new experimental method allowing direct detection of the velocity dependent spin-polarization of hydrogen atoms produced in photodissociation. The technique, which is a variation on the H atom Rydberg time-of-flight method, employs a double-resonance excitation scheme and experimental geometry that yields the two coherent orientation parameters as a function of recoil speed for scattering perpendicular to the laser propagation direction. The approach, apparatus, and optical layout we employ are described here in detail and demonstrated in application to HBr and DBr photolysis at 213 nm. We also discuss the theoretical foundation for the approach, as well as the resolution and sensitivity we achieve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Bernadette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Broderick
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Vladimir Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Chernyak
authors.affiliation: Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194021, Russia and St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia.
authors.forename: Oleg S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Vasyutinskii
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Suits