Probing coordinates of Rydberg wave packets

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2001 · Physical Review A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.64.021404· OSTI ID:40276947

Tannian, B E; Stokely, C L; Dunning, F B; Reinhold, C O; Burgdoerfer, J

We propose a method for determining the time development of the position coordinates of a Rydberg wave packet using the sudden turn-on of a strong field (a ''field step''). The feasibility of the technique is investigated using wave packets created by a half cycle pulse (HCP) that comprise a superposition of very-high-lying Rydberg states. The time evolution of the wave packet is measured using probe pulses that are applied following a variable time delay. The probe pulse ionizes a fraction of the atoms and the survival probability exhibits pronounced oscillations that are associated with the quasiperiodic evolution of the wave packet. Good agreement is found between the experimental data and the results of classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulations. Extraction of classical phase space coordinates from the data is discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 40276947
• Journal Information: Physical Review A, Vol. 64, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.64.021404; Othernumber: PLRAAN000064000002021404000001; R10108PRA; PBD: Aug 2001; ISSN 1050-2947
• Publisher: The American Physical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMS
OSCILLATIONS
PHASE SPACE
PROBABILITY
PROBES
RYDBERG STATES
TIME DELAY
WAVE PACKETS