Photon-scattering theory of the quenching of hydrogenic metastables

The quenching of hydrogenic metastables is formulated as a near-resonant photon-scattering problem, and a complete analysis of the polarization and angular distribution of the emitted radiation is presented. The contribution from np states with n\u3e2 is calculated, and an alternative method of measuring the Lamb shift is suggested. © 1973 The American Physical Society