This book covers polarization alignment and orientation effects in atomic collisions induced
by electron heavy particle or photon impact. The first part of the book presents introductory
chapters on light and particle polarization experimental and computational methods and the
density matrix and state multipole formalism. Examples and exercises are included. The second
part of the book deals with case studies of electron impact and heavy particle excitation
electron transfer impact ionization and autoionization. A separate chapter on photo-induced
processes by new-generation light sources has been added. The last chapter discusses related
topics and applications. Part III includes examples of charge clouds and introductory summaries
of selected seminal papers of tutorial value from the early history of the field (1925 - 1975).
The book is a significant update to the previous (first) edition particularly in experimental
and computational methods the inclusion of key results obtained during the past 15 years and
the extended coverage of photo-induced processes. It is intended as an introductory text for
both experimental and theoretical students and researchers. It can be used as a textbook for
graduate courses as a primary source for special topics and seminar courses and as a standard
reference. The book is accompanied by electronically available copies of the full text of the
key papers in Part III as well as animations of theoretically predicted electron charge clouds
and currents for some of the cases discussed in Part II.
