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AIP conference proceedings

Electron-electron and electron-nuclear interactions in dressed ion-atom collisions

Robert D DuBois

Published Jan 1, 1996• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Electron‐electron and electron‐nuclear interactions leading to excitation and ionization of the collision partners in dressed ion‐atom collisions are discussed. After discussing various signatures of these processes which can be used to isolate and identify them, examples of experimental and theoretical investigations of electron‐electron and electron‐nuclear processes are given. It is shown how these studies are generating an improved understanding of dressed ion‐atom collisions.

DOI
10.1063/1.49837

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Electron‐electron and electron‐nuclear interactions leading to excitation and ionization of the collision partners in dressed ion‐atom collisions are discussed. After discussing various signatures of these processes which can be used to isolate and identify them, examples of experimental and theoretical investigations of electron‐electron and electron‐nuclear processes are given. It is shown how these studies are generating an improved understanding of dressed ion‐atom collisions.
Highly excited (Rydberg) atoms are produced and can exist for significant periods of time in various plasma environments. It is necessary to know cross sections for the various collision processes involving these atoms if a complete understanding of the physics of these environments is to be attained.\nThe experimental investigation of collisional phenomena between high Rydberg sodium atoms and electrons is described in this thesis. A fraction of the atoms in a ground state sodium beam is optically excited (using lasers) to well-defined, high Rydberg states (principal quantum numbers chosen around 40). Subsequent to their production the Rydberg atoms are allowed to interact with 25 eV electrons for a specified time interval following which the collision products are detected. The electrons are produced in a beam which is crossed at right angles with the sodium beam. Important collision processes are (1) electron impact ionization of the Rydberg atom, and (2) electron-Rydberg atom interactions in which the quantum state of the atom is changed (state changing collisions).\nResults are presented for an observed state changing process which is identified as angular momentum state changing only (no change in the value of the principal quantum number). Cross sections for this process are measured to be 10('-10) to 10('-9) cm('2). Problems encountered during the work which prevented the measurement of electron impact ionization cross sections are discussed. In the course of the work two other topics required study: (1) the process of electric field ionization of Rydberg atoms (used to detect the atoms), and (2) the effects of background (300 K) radiation (from the chamber walls, for example) on Rydberg atoms. Results of these studies are also presented.
In this brief review a number of different experimental techniques that combine the advantages of laser and electron interactions with atoms and molecules will be described. These processes range from super-elastic electron scattering from laser excited atoms so as to ascertain the electron collision parameters over all scattering geometries, through new electron interactions with laser cooled and trapped atoms, to the process of electron impact ionization of laser-aligned targets. Examples from work carried out in Manchester are given, and new types of measurements that may be possible in the future are described. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.
During the last two years, theoretical studies were performed on a variety of topics related to collisions involving Rydberg atoms. Progress was made towards the understanding of ion-Rydberg atom, Rydberg atom-Rydberg atom, and ground state atom-Rydberg atom collisions. Cross sections were calculated for electron capture, ionization, and excitation processes and parametrized in terms of atomic parameters. A strong dc electric field was also incoporated in calculations of electron capture and ionization cross sections for ion-Rydberg atom collisions. The results of this latter investigation indicate the design of a far ir photon detector which is based on the field ionization of Rydberg atoms may be limited by the collision processes. (Author)
Collision experiments employing a preparation and/or an analysis of spin polarization provide a powerful tool to study individual interaction mechanisms. For atoms or ions with nonvanishing nuclear moments the hyperfine interaction before and after the collision may affect the spin polarization and any collision-induced orientation and alignment, thereby substantially reducing experimentally observable effects. This disturbance can be avoided by applying an external magnetic field, as is demonstrated here for the inelastic collision process He+{\mathrm{He}}^{+}He++Na(\ensuremath{\uparrow}) \ensuremath{\rightarrow}He+{\mathrm{He}}^{+}He++Na∗{\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}Na∗(3p). Easily attainable magnetic field strengths are sufficient to decouple electronic and nuclear spins whereby the figure of merit for both, orientation and alignment, is increased by more than one order of magnitude.
Atoms in highly excited Rydberg states possess physical characteristics quite unlike those associated with atoms in the ground or low-lying excited states. In particular, they are physically very large and are only very weakly bound. In consequence, collisions can lead to a wide variety of reaction processes many of which are unique to Rydberg species and have very large collision cross sections. In collisions with neutral targets, Rydberg atoms behave not as an atom but rather as a pair of well-separated independent scatterers, namely the core ion and the excited Rydberg electron. In the present article we discuss many of the different reactions that can occur when Rydberg atoms collide with neutral targets, focusing principally on reactions that are dominated by (binary) Rydberg electron-target interactions and include collisions with molecules that attach free low-energy electrons and with polar targets. In certain situations, however, interactions involving the Rydberg core ion are important. This is illustrated using as an example the destruction of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules excited in a cold dense gas.