ac-Stark-shift-induced photoelectron spin polarization in resonant multiphoton ionization

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Abstract
The influence of the ac-Stark shifts on the spin polarization (SP) of the photoelectron in a resonant multiphoton ionization is discussed. It is shown that the Stark shifts of various levels are different and this removes any initial fine-structure degeneracy of the excited states. This increased dynamic separation between the states increases the SP of the ejected photoelectron. Numerical results are presented to illustrate this effect. By expressing the equations of motion in the spin basis set the precise conditions necessary to observe nonzero SP are identified. It is shown on the basis of these conditions that although the removal of the fine-structure degeneracy occurs independent of whether the atom has any spin-orbit coupling, this does not induce any spin polarization if the atom has no spin-orbit coupling.