Direct Observation of the Momentun-Density Profile of Excited and Oriented Sodium Atoms

The noncoplanar symmetric (e,2e> cross section is obtained for sodium atoms pumped by σ⁺ laser light tuned to the 3S1/2²(F=2){↔}3P3/2²(F{'}=3) transition. The excited pumped atoms are in them_F'=3 state, or in terms of orbital momentum in the mₗ=+1 state. The coordinate frame is chosen so that the momentum density of the excited state is probed in the kₓ direction with kz and ky being fixed and essentially zero. The results are in excellent agreement with the momentum-density profile given by the 3p(mₗ=1) Hartree-Fock wave function. {} 1990 The American Physical Society