Dichroism in the3pPhotoionization of Polarized Cr Atoms

The $3p$ photoionization of polarized Cr atoms was investigated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy with linearly polarized vacuum ultraviolet undulator radiation. The $3p$ photoelectron spectra depend strongly on the polarization of the Cr ground state. Linear dichroism and linear magnetic dichroism in the angular distribution were observed using either linearly or circularly polarized laser radiation to polarize the ground state of the Cr atoms. Both effects provide striking confirmation of the general theory of photoionization from polarized atoms and elucidate recent results on magnetic thin films.