Influence of a dc offset field on kicked quasi-one-dimensional Rydberg atoms: Stabilization and frustrated field ionization

Journal Article · Wed Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20786948

Yoshida, S ^[1]; Reinhold, C O ^[2]; Burgdoerfer, J ^[1]; Zhao, W; Mestayer, J J; Lancaster, J C; Dunning, F B ^[3]

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1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna (Austria)
2. Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6372 (United States)
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892 (United States)

The influence of a superposed offset field on the response of highly polarized (quasi-1D) very-high-n Rydberg atoms to a periodic train of unidirectional half-cycle pulses (HCPs) is investigated, both experimentally and theoretically. It is observed that the presence of an offset field strongly influences the dynamics. The electronic states become transiently stabilized and trapped near the ionization threshold when the net average field they experience is near zero irrespective of whether the HCPs, applied parallel to the atomic axis, are directed towards or away from the nucleus. The nature of this stabilization is explored using Poincare surfaces of section. In large offset fields, direct field ionization becomes possible but it is demonstrated that this can be suppressed by application of an oppositely directed HCP train. The use of such ''frustrated field ionization'' to measure the polarization of Rydberg atoms is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 20786948
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 73; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
IONIZATION
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PERIODICITY
POLARIZATION
PULSES
RYDBERG STATES
STABILIZATION
SURFACES
TRAPPING