Ionization of Atoms with Spin Polarized Electrons

The most detailed insight into the process of electron impact-induced ionization of atomic species is provided by measurements in which both kinematical and quantum mechanical variables are determined. Here we describe recent (e,2e) experimental and theoretical studies involving the ionization of xenon and argon by spin-polarized electrons in which the fine-structure levels of the ion are energetically resolved. Such investigations shed light on the mechanisms driving the ionization reaction and the role of exchange and relativistic processes