We analyze the dependence of the rate of associative ionization of two radiatively excited atoms on the polarization properties of the exciting light. This provides a direct relation between the observed ion-production rate as a function of the polarization and the ionization rates for various combinations of the magnetic substates. We consider an atomic beam irradiated by a single laser beam, as well as an atomic vapor. The description applies to a recent experimental observation of a strong polarization dependence of the ionization rate in an atomic beam, and at the same time we suggest alternate experimental methods of analyzing the total cross sections of any inelastic or reactive binary collision of excited atoms as a function of the magnetic quantum numbers.

• Received 21 June 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.26.3137