Investigations of Stark effects in xenon Rydberg states by laser-induced fluorescence-dip spectroscopy

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.74.033409· OSTI ID:20857722

Wagenaars, E; Kroesen, G M. W.; Bowden, M D ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven(Netherlands)

Stark effects in Rydberg states of xenon atoms were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental part consisted of laser-induced fluorescence-dip spectroscopy. Using a (2+1)-photon excitation scheme, xenon atoms were excited from the ground state to high-lying Rydberg ns and nd levels. Measurements were made in a controllable electric field environment, produced by applying a pulsed voltage to two parallel metal electrodes. For energy levels with principal quantum numbers ranging from 12 to 18, Stark shifts of up to 4.8 cm{sup -1} were observed for electric fields ranging from 0 to 4000 V/cm. Additionally, mixing of energy levels in high electric fields was measured for nd levels. The experimental results were compared to a theoretical calculation based on solving the Schroedinger equation for a perturbed Hamiltonian. The calculation method proved to be very accurate for predicting Stark effects in Rydberg nd levels, while for ns levels the agreement was only moderate, probably due to deviations from the assumption of a hydrogenlike atom that is used in the calculation. Finally, the feasibility of using measurements of Stark shifts of Rydberg levels as a diagnostic for electric fields in low-pressure discharges was discussed.

• OSTI ID: 20857722
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 74, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.74.033409; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
CALCULATION METHODS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EXCITATION
FLUORESCENCE
GROUND STATES
HAMILTONIANS
LASER RADIATION
METALS
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PHOTONS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
QUANTUM NUMBERS
RYDBERG STATES
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SPECTRAL SHIFT
STARK EFFECT
XENON