Angular momentum effects in the ionization-with-excitation process of open and closed 3d-shell states of zinc atoms

Low-energy, polarized-electron scattering from ground state zinc atoms has explored the influence of open and closed 3d-shell effects in the ionization-with-excitation scattering process. Observations of nonzero values of the Stokes P-2 parameter of the 589.4 nm photons from the open-shell 3d(9)4s(2) D-2(3/2) ionic state reveals spin-orbit interaction effects. In contrast, negligible spin-orbit interaction was deduced from the vanishing Stokes P-2 parameter of the 602.2 nm photons from the closed-shell 3d(10)5d D-2(3/2) ionic state, for which the core-valence correlation is less important. A strong resonance in the closed-shell transition was observed in the P-3 parameter, about 0.8 eV above the excitation threshold with positive orientation. There are indications of a resonance in the open-shell transition.