Strong Angular-Momentum-Coupling Dependence of Atomic Decay Angular Distributions in a Hybrid $\mathbf{LS/LSJ}$ Framework

State production and its subsequent decay can each require a different angular-momentum coupling treatment. Although long recognized, this distinction is often overlooked in the two-step model, where $LS$ coupling is traditionally applied to both production and decay ($LS/LS$), even when the decay r