Algebraic decay and phase-space metamorphoses in microwave ionization of hydrogen Rydberg atoms

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.45.8284· OSTI ID:7183127

Lai, Y; Grebogi, C ^[1]; Bluemel, R ^[2]; Ding, M ^[3]

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1. Laboratory for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716 (United States)
3. Department of Mathematics, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (United States) Center for Complex Systems, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (United States)

We study classically the microwave ionization of hydrogen atoms using the standard one-dimensional model. We find that the survival probability of an electron decays algebraically for long exposure times. Furthermore, as the microwave field strength increases, we find that the asymptotic algebraic decay exponent can decrease due to phase-space metamorphoses in which new layers of Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) islands are exposed when KAM surfaces are destroyed. We also find that after such phase-space metamorphoses, the survival probability of an electron as a function of time can have a crossover region with different decay exponents. We argue that this phenomenon is typical for open Hamiltonian systems that exhibit nonhyperbolic chaotic scattering.

• OSTI ID: 7183127
• Journal Information: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States) Vol. 45:11; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664200* -- Spectra of Atoms & Molecules & their Interactions with Photons-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
DECAY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
MECHANICS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NONMETALS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PHASE SPACE
RADIATIONS
RYDBERG STATES
SPACE