Rydberg Atom Formation in Ultracold Plasmas: Small Energy Transfer with Large Consequences

Journal Article · Fri Jun 06 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.223201· OSTI ID:21132482

Pohl, T; Sadeghpour, H R ^[1]; Vrinceanu, D ^[2]

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1. ITAMP, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)
2. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

We present extensive Monte Carlo calculations of electron-impact-induced transitions between highly excited Rydberg states and provide accurate rate coefficients. For moderate energy changes, our calculations confirm the widely applied expressions in P. Mansbach and J. Keck [Phys. Rev. 181, 275 (1969)] but reveal strong deviations at small energy transfer. Simulations of ultracold plasmas demonstrate that these corrections significantly impact the short-time dynamics of three-body Rydberg atom formation. The improved rate coefficients yield quantitative agreement with recent ultracold plasma experiments.

• OSTI ID: 21132482
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CORRECTIONS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY TRANSFER
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PLASMA
RYDBERG STATES
SIMULATION
THREE-BODY PROBLEM