Production of quasi-one-dimensional very-high-n Rydberg atoms

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.013403· OSTI ID:20634136

Stokely, C L; Lancaster, J C; Dunning, F B ^[1]; Arbo, D G ^[2]; Reinhold, C O ^[2]; Burgdoerfer, J ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, MS 61, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005-1892 (United States)
2. Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6372 (United States)

We demonstrate that strongly polarized quasi-one-dimensional very-high-n (potassium) Rydberg atoms can be produced by photoexcitation of selected Stark states in the presence of a weak dc field. Calculations show that, for m=0 states, significant photoexcitation occurs only in the vicinity of the Stark-shifted s, p, and d levels, and that those states located near the Stark-shifted d level have sizable polarizations. These predictions are confirmed by experiment. The degree of polarization of the product states is analyzed by studying differences in their ionization characteristics when subject to short pulsed electric fields applied parallel and antiparallel to the dc field.

• OSTI ID: 20634136
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 67; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FORECASTING
IONIZATION
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
POLARIZATION
POTASSIUM
RYDBERG STATES
STARK EFFECT