Theory of Final-State Coherence in Beam-Tilted-Foil Interactions

Abstract

I propose a theory for the orientation and alignment of atomic states following atomicbeam passage through foils tilted through angle $\alpha$ from normal incidence. The final encounters within the foil operate on the existing foil-induced alignment, producing orientation and altered alignment. Within theoretical limitation, tensorial components transforming as angular momentum components in the collision frame vary as $tan\alpha$, while those associated with the squares of components contain a ${tan}^2\alpha$ dependence, in substantial agreeement with observation.