Polarization of line radiation in the presence of external electric quadrupole and uniform magnetic fields: II. Arbitrary orientation of magnetic field

Abstract

In continuation of our earlier investigation (referred to hereafter as part I) where we considered the mathematically simple case of magnetic field orientation along the Z-axis of the principal axes frame (PAF) of the electric quadrupole field, we take up here the general problem of arbitrary orientation of the magnetic field with respect to the PAF, and investigate the nature of polarized line spectra of an atom making a transition from an upper level with spin Ju to a lower level with spin Jl. Explicit formulae for the emitted Stokes parameters are obtained and we discuss their physical significance by computing numerically the cases of transitions Ju=1 → Jl=0 and Ju= 3/2 → Jl= 1/2. Specific features or signatures of the polarized line spectra are discussed as functions of the relevant physical parameters. The Stokes parameters are also analyzed in terms of the Zeeman term contributions and the cross-term contributions (which arise due to quantum interference). © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.