Coherent time evolution of Rydberg level populations in a Landau-Zener grid
The time evolution groups of parallel energy levels (m, m{prime} = 0, 1, 2,...) is considered as a model of dynamic state mixing of interacting Rydberg manifolds by ramped electric fields used in selective field ionization (SFI). Each intersection [m, m{prime}] of the triangular grid of level crossings is treated as an isolated 2-level Landau-Zener anticrossing with amplitudes d and a for diabatic and adiabatic transitions, respectively ({vert_bar}d{vert_bar}{sup 2} + {vert_bar}a{vert_bar}{sup 2} = 1). Beginning on the uppermost upward-going level (m = 0) and following successive time steps {tau}{sup (N)} (N = 0,1,2,...), a path analysis leads to complex interference patterns among the many paths arriving at an intersection [m, m{prime}] after passing through N = m + m{prime} previous ones. The relative phase between any two paths is a multiple of the unit of action {var_phi} defined by the two pairs of adiabatic levels connecting four neighboring anticrossings. Compared to results from an analysis neglecting interference effects, there occurs here a general {open_quotes}emptying out{close_quotes} of population at the center of the interaction region (where the majority of paths lead). Most striking are resonances at high ramp rates (d {yields} 1), which with high probability enhance upward-going levels whose index m is an integral multiple of 27{pi}/{var_phi}. Though {var_phi} is sensitive to ramp rate, it is nevertheless expected that observed diabatic SFI signals should exhibit sequences of secondary peaks traceable to such resonances, which should not be assigned to extraneous initial states.
- OSTI ID:
- 281218
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9305421-; ISSN 0003-0503; TRN: 96:019143
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Vol. 38, Issue 3; Conference: 1993 American Physical Society annual meeting on atomic, molecular, and topical physics, Reno, NV (United States), 16-19 May 1993; Other Information: PBD: May 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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