Measurement of the Integrated Stokes Parameters of Zn 468 nm Fluorescence Excited by Polarized-Electron Impact

The integrated Stokes parameters P1, P2, and P3 of Zn (43P0,1 - 53S1) fluorescence resulting from transversely-spin-polarized electron impact excitation of the Zn (4s5s)53S1 state have been measured. This work was motivated by similar studies reported several years ago, in which non-zero values of the integrated Stokes parameter P2 between the threshold for the (4s5s)53S1 excitation and the first cascading (4s5p)53PJ threshold were measured. We observe optical excitation functions in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical results, but find integrated P2 Stokes parameter values which are consistent with zero and inconsistent with those measured previously.