New states of maximum polarization for spin-1 particles

Abstract The existence of a new type of maximum spin-1 polarization is demonstrated, using experimental data available at present. These states of polarization do not generally yield observables with maximum possible values, but have parameters that lie well within the range allowed. It is rather the particular combination of values that constitutes a state of maximum possible polarization. The conditions necessary and sufficient for such an extreme state are shown to be linear in the transition amplitudes, a fact useful in the analysis of the process concerned. The experimental evidence and the conditions on the transition matrix for extreme points of this nature are discussed for several processes with simple spin-parity configurations.