Electron-collision-induced alignment of rare gases near threshold

Results of a semirelativistic R-matrix calculation are compared with experimental values for light polarizations and alignment parameters of the second excited-state manifolds of neon and krypton following electron impact excitation. The calculations focus on the near-threshold regime, where negative-ion resonances have a significant effect on the atomic alignment. A grouping of the alignment values according to the electronic angular momentum J of the excited state is observed and qualitatively explained by angular momentum coupling considerations.