Two-photon ionization of alkali-metal atoms in the framework of infinite summations and spin-orbit coupling

Abstract

A theoretical method previously developed for the two-photon ionization of alkali-metal atoms is extended to the spin-orbit coupling scheme. We have obtained the Green's function of this problem in the framework of quantum-defect theory and so we have been able to perform the infinite summations related to perturbation theory. The generalized transition probability rates are calculated in the off-resonant and resonant regions, respectively, for polarized incident radiation. Destructive interference effects between the unperturbed atomic states in the infinite summations producing a finite deep minimum in the off-resonant region, are predicted by our theory, both for linearly and circularly polarized incident radiation. A detailed calculation of electron-spin polarization is given. Comparisons of values predicted by the present work with experiment and other theoretical calculations are made for the case of atomic cesium initially in the ground $6S$ state.