Resonant collisions of Na Rydberg atoms in electric and magnetic fields

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.4077· OSTI ID:6836751

Renn, M J; Sun, Q S; Gallagher, T F ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 (United States)

We have observed 10-MHz-wide energy-transfer resonances between colliding Na Rydberg atoms. The narrow linewidth allows us to apply a modest 5--40-G static magnetic field in addition to a static tuning electric field and resolve new resonances arising from magnetic-field-induced splitting of the Stark energy levels. When [ital B] is parallel to [ital E], the nine resolved resonances observed with only an [ital E] field are further split into 144 possible resonances. However, only the 21 resonances corresponding to collisions in which the spins are unchanged are observable. When [ital B] is perpendicular to [ital E], the spectrum of collisional resonances is similar to that of the vertical field case, except that the final spin states cannot be determined. With both parallel and perpendicular fields present, linear and quadratic terms of the [ital B] field interaction create more complicated spectra than with either case alone. The experimental spectra agree quantitatively with the spectra calculated using a simple Zeeman model of the energy levels.

• OSTI ID: 6836751
• Journal Information: Physical Review A; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A; (United States) Vol. 50:5; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664300* -- Atomic & Molecular Physics-- Collision Phenomena-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXCITED STATES
INELASTIC SCATTERING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
METALS
RESONANCE SCATTERING
RYDBERG STATES
SCATTERING
SODIUM
TUNING
VELOCITY