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AIP conference proceedings

Detailed study of collisional background in collinear laser photoionization of fast atoms

Sergei A. Aseyev, Yu. A. Kudryavtsev, Vladilen S Letokhov, V. V. Petrunin

Published Jan 1, 1995• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We showed that there are two main processes that produce the collisional background in the method of the collinear laser photoionization of fast atoms. The first process is the ionization of fast atoms and the second one is the collisional excitation of fast atoms into Rydberg states.The first experimental results on Rydberg states formation cross sections in atomic collisions were obtained. For the first time it has been experimentally obtained such cross sections scaled as n−3.To reduce the collisional noise the use of fast Rydberg atoms ionization in permanent magnetic field is proposed.

DOI
10.1063/1.47578

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AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1995•0 citations
We showed that there are two main processes that produce the collisional background in the method of the collinear laser photoionization of fast atoms. The first process is the ionization of fast atoms and the second one is the collisional excitation of fast atoms into Rydberg states.The first experimental results on Rydberg states formation cross sections in atomic collisions were obtained. For the first time it has been experimentally obtained such cross sections scaled as n−3.To reduce the collisional noise the use of fast Rydberg atoms ionization in permanent magnetic field is proposed.
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.
Thermal collisions between laser excited Xe(nf) Rydberg atoms and a variety of neutral atomic and molecular targets have been investigated. In Xe(nf)-HF collisions, n-changing, 4-changing and collisional ionization were observed. For n = 26 and 27, absolute collisional cross sections for these processes have been determined using time-resolved selective field ionization. In addition, the first evidence of molecular rotational excitation through the transfer of energy of electronic excitation from a Rydberg atom is presented. In Xe(nf) - Xe, Kr, Ar, CO2, CO and N2 collisions the dominant mechanism was observed to be 4-changing: no evidence of n-changing or collisional ionization was apparent. Absolute collisional cross sections have been determined for a range of n between 24 and 37. Comparison of these cross sections with those obtained using a theoretical model in which effects due to the Rydberg core are ignored appears to lead to satisfactory results only for Xe, Kr and CO2, whereas when core effects are included satisfactory agreement between experiment and theory is found in all cases.
Collisional and thermal ionization of sodium n S and n D Rydberg atoms with n = 8–20 has been studied. The experiments were performed using a two-step pulsed laser excitation in an effusive atomic beam at atom density of about 2 × 10 10 cm −3 . Molecular and atomic ions from associative, Penning and thermal ionization processes were detected. It was found that the atomic ions were created mainly due to photoionization of Rydberg atoms by photons of blackbody radiation at the ambient temperature of 300 K. Blackbody ionization rates and effective lifetimes of Rydberg states of interest were determined. The molecular ions were found to be from associative ionization in Na( nL ) + Na(3S) collisions. Rate constants of associative ionization have been measured using an original method based on relative measurements of Na + 2 and Na + ion signals.
The total collisional cross sections of caesium Rydberg 40 S state is obtained by measuring the corresponding effective decay rates as a function of Rydberg atoms density in a conventional magneto-optical trap using the state-selective pulse field ionization technique. We investigate the collisional properties for different Rydberg atomic densities in detail. The results indicate that the Rydberg atomic interaction induced collisions is the dominant mechanism leading to the large collisional cross sections.