Collins asymmetry in field ionisation of hydrogen

Abstract

International audienceAn effect similar to the Collins asymmetry is found in the ionization of a hydrogen atom by a static electric field \Ev. When the initial electron possesses an orbital angular momentum $\langle\mathbf{L}\rangle$ transverse to the field, the mean transverse velocity \langle\vv_{\rm T}\rangle of the final electron points in the direction of \Ev\times\langle\mathbf{L}\rangle. However $\langle\mathbf{L}\rangle$ is oscillating in time due to the linear Stark effect, making \langle\vv_{\rm T}\rangle oscillate