Quantum defects and the long-term behavior of radial Rydberg wave packets

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.R4445· OSTI ID:6847597

Bluhm, R ^[1]; Kostelecky, V A ^[2]

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1. Physics Department, Colby College, Waterville, Maine 04901 (United States)
2. Physics Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405 (United States)

We show that a theoretical description of radial Rydberg wave packets in alkali-metal atoms based solely on hydrogenic wave functions and energies is insufficient to explain data that could be obtained in pump-probe experiments with current technology. The modifications to long-term revival times induced by quantum defects cannot be obtained by direct scaling of the hydrogenic results. Moreover, the effects of laser detuning and quantum defects are different. An alternative approach providing analytical predictions is presented.

• OSTI ID: 6847597
• Journal Information: Physical Review A; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A; (United States) Vol. 50:6; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664200* -- Spectra of Atoms & Molecules & their Interactions with Photons-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
EIGENSTATES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FUNCTIONS
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
LASER RADIATION
METALS
NONMETALS
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON COLLISIONS
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
RADIATIONS
RYDBERG STATES
WAVE FUNCTIONS
WAVE PACKETS