Microwave manipulation of an atomic electron.

Anthony J. Sigillito, H. Malissa, A.M. Tyryshkin +1 more

Ian D. Leroux, Joseph H. Thywissen

H. Maeda, D.V.L. Norum, Thomas F. Gallagher

Although an atom is a manifestly quantum mechanical system, the electron in an atom can be made to move in a classical orbit almost indefinitely if it is exposed to a weak microwave field oscillating at its orbital frequency. The field effectively tethers the electron, phase-locking its motion to the oscillating microwave field. By exploiting this phase-locking, we have sped up or slowed down the orbital motion of the electron in excited lithium atoms by increasing or decreasing the microwave frequency between 13 and 19 gigahertz; the binding energy and orbital size change concurrently.

William D. Phillips, P. L. Gould, Paul D. Lett

H. Maeda, D.V.L. Norum, Thomas F. Gallagher

With a microwave pulse chirped from 19 to 13 GHz population in the Li n=70 states is transferred to the n=79 states through a phase locking of the electron's motion to the microwave field.