The EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Science Research Committee of the U.
K. ) suggested two Workshops (York University, 22-23 September, 1993 and
15-16 April, 1994) for possible development of polarized electron/photon
physics as targeted areas of research. The remit of these meetings
included identifying research groups and their activities in polarized
electron/polarized photon physics, listing relevant existing facilities
(particularly electron spin sources and polarimeters), possible joint
projects between research groups in the U. K., recognizing future needs
of projects for research of the highest scientific merit and referring
to international comparisons of these research activities. Although very
diverse but interconnected, the areas of research presented at the
Workshops embrace atomic, molecular, surface, and solid state physics.
In more detail these areas covered: electron spin correlations and
photon polarization correlations in atomic and molecular collisions and
photoionization, electron spin effects in scanning tunneling microscopy,
surface and interface magnetism from X-ray scattering and polarized
Auger electrons (including analysis of domain structures in solids and
surfaces), polarized electrons from multiphoton ionization, quasi-atomic
effects in solid state physics, dichroism in molecular and surface
processes, Faraday rotation and high-field magneto-optics and
polarization effects in simultaneous higher order electron-photon
excitations. It is obvious from the spectrum of research fields
presented at the Workshops that physicists of primarily two communities,
namely those studying electron and photon spin interactions with gaseous
atomic and molecular targets and those using condensed matter targets
for their studies, interacted very closely with each other.
