Electron-photon coincidence studies of heavy noble gas excitation using spin-polarized incident electrons

The excitation of the heavy noble gases Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe by electron impact has been studied extensively by various groups using electron-photon coincidence techniques. These experiments make possible detailed investigations of the collision process in terms of excitation amplitudes and their interference. Further insight into the role of various spin effects can be obtained by using spin-polarized incident electrons, as shown recently for mercury. Coincidence studies of heavy noble gas excitation using polarized electrons are now underway at Munster. First results for Xe will be presented at the conference.