Collisions of helium with Rydberg atoms in the presence of static electric and magnetic fields
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Tecnologie Relative and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica della Materia, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo (Italy)
Alignment and orientation effects in collisions of helium with Rydberg atoms due to the presence of static electric and magnetic fields are predicted. Analytical expressions are obtained for the cross sections of the state-to-state transitions within the manifold with the same principal quantum number. For moderate field-induced inelasticity, the curves of the cross sections vs the fields intensity show modulations that are explained in terms of the phase differences accumulated by the wave functions of the states involved in the collision. Due to the presence of the magnetic field, transitions involving inversion of high magnetic quantum numbers are dramatically quenched. The possibility of observing the predicted effects is discussed. The reported analytical cross sections are expected to help in the understanding of the results.
- OSTI ID:
- 20646375
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Vol. 70, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.70.042715; (c) 2004 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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