Visualizing the Coupling between Red and Blue Stark States Using Photoionization Microscopy

Stodolna, A. S.; Lépine, F.; Bergeman, T.; Robicheaux, F.; Gijsbertsen, A.; Jungmann, J. H.; Bordas, C.; Vrakking, M. J. J.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.103002

Visualizing the Coupling between Red and Blue Stark States Using Photoionization Microscopy

Journal Article · Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.103002· OSTI ID:2569827

Stodolna, A. S. ^[1]; Lépine, F. ^[2]; Bergeman, T. ^[3]; Robicheaux, F. ^[4]; Gijsbertsen, A. ^[1]; Jungmann, J. H. ^[1]; Bordas, C. ^[2]; Vrakking, M. J. J. ^[5]

FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Université Lyon (France)
Stony Brook University, NY (United States)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)
FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Max-Born-Institut, Berlin (Germany)

In nonhydrogenic atoms in a dc electric field, the finite size of the ionic core introduces a coupling between quasibound Stark states that leads to avoided crossings between states that would otherwise cross. Near an avoided crossing, the interacting states may have decay amplitudes that cancel each other, decoupling one of the states from the ionization continuum. This well-known interference narrowing effect, observed as a strongly electric field-dependent decrease in the ionization rate, was previously observed in several atoms. Here we use photoionization microscopy to visualize interference narrowing in helium atoms, thereby explicitly revealing the mechanism by which Stark states decay. As a result, the interference narrowing allows measurements of the nodal patterns of red Stark states, which are otherwise not observable due to their intrinsic short lifetime.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Chicago Office, Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012193

OSTI ID:: 2569827

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 113; ISSN 1079-7114; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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