Ionization of nS, nP, and nD lithium, potassium, and cesium Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063776108070029· OSTI ID:21241983

Ryabtsev, I I; Tretyakov, D B ^[1]; Bezuglov, N N ^[2]; Ekers, A ^[3]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch (Russian Federation)
2. St. Petersburg State University (Russian Federation)
3. University of Latvia (Latvia)

The results of theoretical calculations of the blackbody ionization rates of lithium, potassium, and cesium atoms residing in Rydberg states are presented. The calculations are performed for nS, nP, and nD states in a wide range of principal quantum numbers, n = 8-65, for blackbody radiation temperatures T = 77, 300, and 600 K. The calculations are performed using the known quasi-classical formulas for the photoionization cross sections and for the radial matrix elements of transitions in the discrete spectrum. The effect of the blackbody-radiation-induced population redistribution between Rydberg states on the blackbody ionization rates measured under laboratory conditions is quantitatively analyzed. Simple analytical formulas that approximate the numerical results and that can be used to estimate the blackbody ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. For the S series of lithium, the rate of population of high-lying Rydberg levels by blackbody radiation is found to anomalously behave as a function of n. This anomaly is similar to the occurrence of the Cooper minimum in the discrete spectrum.

• OSTI ID: 21241983
• Journal Information: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 107; ISSN JTPHES; ISSN 1063-7761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BLACKBODY RADIATION
CESIUM
CROSS SECTIONS
LITHIUM
MATRIX ELEMENTS
PHOTOIONIZATION
POTASSIUM
QUANTUM NUMBERS
RYDBERG STATES
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K