Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Bulletin of the American Physical Society

NONDISPERSING BOHR WAVE PACKETS USING CIRCULARLY POLARIZED MICROWAVE FIELDS

H. Maeda, J. H. Gurian, Thomas F. Gallagher

Published May 21, 2009• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

It is possible to make nondispersing Bohr wave packets in a straightforward way starting from Li Rydberg atoms in an np eigenstate[2]. These atoms are first exposed to a linearly polarized microwave field at the orbital frequency, 17.6GHz at n = 72. The linearly polarized field phase locks the electron wave packet to the microwave phase, making a nondispersing wave packet in which the electron oscillates in a highly eccentric, approximately linear orbit. We detect the phase locked motion of the electron with a 1/2ps half-cycle pulse synchronized with the microwave field. Slowly changing the microwave polarization from linear to circular polarization creates a nondispersing Bohr wave packet that survives for thousands of orbits.

Related papers

Nondispersing Bohr Wave Packets

H. Maeda, J. H. Gurian, Thomas F. Gallagher

Long-lived, nondispersing circular, or Bohr, wave packets are produced starting from Li Rydberg atoms by exposing them first to a linearly polarized microwave field at the orbital frequency, 17.6 GHz at principal quantum number n=72, which locks the electron's motion into an approximately linear orbit in which the electron oscillates in phase with the microwave field. The microwave polarization is changed to circular polarization slowly compared to the orbital frequency, and the electron's motion follows, resulting in a nondispersing Bohr wave packet.

Physical Review Letters•Mar 9, 2009•25 citations

Nondispersing Wave Packets

H. Maeda, Thomas F. Gallagher

We have formed nondispersing wave packets from atomic Li Rydberg eigenstates by adding a small microwave field approximately resonant with the Deltan=1 transition. The orbital motion of the Rydberg electron in states of 70<or=n<or=78 becomes phase locked to a 17.5 GHz microwave field and remains so for 900 ns, roughly 15 000 orbits of the Rydberg electron. A Floquet approach provides a reasonable quantum-mechanical description.

Physical Review Letters•Apr 1, 2004•75 citations

Creation of nondispersive Bohr-like wave packets

J. J. Mestayer, B. Wyker, F. B. Dunning +3 more

We demonstrate the use of a periodic train of half-cycle pulses to maintain strongly-localized wave packets in very-high-$n$ $(n\ensuremath{\sim}300)$ Rydberg atoms that travel in near-circular orbits about the nucleus. This motion can be followed for hundreds of orbital periods and mimics the original Bohr model of the hydrogen atom which envisioned an electron in circular classical orbit about the nucleus.

Physical Review A•Mar 30, 2009•8 citations

報文

貴洋 西口, 愛子 高峰, 純 東出 +2 more

We have observed nondispersing wave packets which are excited in Li Rydberg atoms.The wave packets are driven by a weak, linearly polarized microwave pulse, frequency of which is near resonant to one of Rydberg transitions in Li atoms with the principal quantum number n ranging from 71 to 80.These wave packets are found to be survived even in a non-resonant microwave ˆeld, intensity of which is comparable to that of the driving microwave ˆeld.

Journal of the Spectroscopical Society of Japan•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations

Creating and Transporting Trojan Wave Packets

B. Wyker, S. Ye, F. B. Dunning +3 more

Nondispersive localized Trojan wave packets with n(i) ~ 305 moving in near-circular Bohr-like orbits are created and transported to localized near-circular Trojan states of higher n, n(f) ~ 600, by driving with a linearly polarized sinusoidal electric field whose period is slowly increased. The protocol is remarkably efficient with over 80% of the initial atoms being transferred to the higher n states, a result confirmed by classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulations.

Physical Review Letters•Jan 24, 2012•16 citations

Realization of Localized Bohr-Like Wave Packets

J. J. Mestayer, B. Wyker, J. C. Lancaster +4 more

We demonstrate a protocol to create localized wave packets in very-high-n Rydberg states which travel in nearly circular orbits around the nucleus. Although these wave packets slowly dephase and eventually lose their localization, their motion can be monitored over several orbital periods. These wave packets represent the closest analog yet achieved to the original Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, i.e., an electron in a circular classical orbit around the nucleus. The possible extension of the approach to create "planetary atoms" in highly correlated stable multiply excited states is discussed.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 20, 2008•41 citations
It is possible to make nondispersing Bohr wave packets in a straightforward way starting from Li Rydberg atoms in an np eigenstate[2]. These atoms are first exposed to a linearly polarized microwave field at the orbital frequency, 17.6GHz at n = 72. The linearly polarized field phase locks the electron wave packet to the microwave phase, making a nondispersing wave packet in which the electron oscillates in a highly eccentric, approximately linear orbit. We detect the phase locked motion of the electron with a 1/2ps half-cycle pulse synchronized with the microwave field. Slowly changing the microwave polarization from linear to circular polarization creates a nondispersing Bohr wave packet that survives for thousands of orbits.
Long-lived, nondispersing circular, or Bohr, wave packets are produced starting from Li Rydberg atoms by exposing them first to a linearly polarized microwave field at the orbital frequency, 17.6 GHz at principal quantum number n=72, which locks the electron's motion into an approximately linear orbit in which the electron oscillates in phase with the microwave field. The microwave polarization is changed to circular polarization slowly compared to the orbital frequency, and the electron's motion follows, resulting in a nondispersing Bohr wave packet.
We demonstrate the use of a periodic train of half-cycle pulses to maintain strongly-localized wave packets in very-high-nnn $(n\ensuremath{\sim}300)$ Rydberg atoms that travel in near-circular orbits about the nucleus. This motion can be followed for hundreds of orbital periods and mimics the original Bohr model of the hydrogen atom which envisioned an electron in circular classical orbit about the nucleus.
We demonstrate a protocol to create localized wave packets in very-high-n Rydberg states which travel in nearly circular orbits around the nucleus. Although these wave packets slowly dephase and eventually lose their localization, their motion can be monitored over several orbital periods. These wave packets represent the closest analog yet achieved to the original Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, i.e., an electron in a circular classical orbit around the nucleus. The possible extension of the approach to create "planetary atoms" in highly correlated stable multiply excited states is discussed.