Decay of Polarized States

Abstract

In this chapter we consider a broad class of processes of decay of a prepared quantum state, such as spontaneous emission of electromagnetic radiation (radiative decay) and Auger decay (nonradiative decay). The angular distributions and the polarization of the decay products, which are often studied in modern experiments, depend on the dynamics of the decay as well as the polarization properties of the initial decaying state. Here we consider some properties of the decay products and their relation to the initial state of polarization.