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

Physical Review A

High- |m| Rydberg states in strong magnetic fields

Jeffrey R. Guest, Georg A. Raithel

Published Nov 11, 2003• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We calculate spectra and wave functions of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields using adiabatic basis sets, which reflect the different time scales of the electronic motion parallel and transverse to the magnetic field. For large absolute values of the azimuthal quantum number m, nonadiabatic corrections are found to be negligible, and the adiabatic basis states and their energies are exact solutions. With decreasing value of $|m|,$ the system turns nonadiabatic, and the statistical behavior of the spectra changes from being consistent with classically regular to being consistent with classically chaotic motion. A relation describing the parameter region in which this transition occurs is obtained.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.68.052502

Related papers

Decay rates of high- |m| Rydberg states in strong magnetic fields

Jeffrey R. Guest, Jongsoo Choi, Georg A. Raithel

We calculate the natural decay rates of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields. We use adiabatic basis sets that exploit the different time scales of the electronic motion parallel and transverse to the magnetic field. For large absolute values of the azimuthal quantum number m, our approach is very efficient and naturally leads to a classification of the decay modes into magnetron, z-bounce, and cyclotron decays. We discuss the dependence of the decay rates on m, and study the enhancement of the decay rates due to thermal radiation.

Physical Review A•Aug 28, 2003•29 citations

Observation of high angular momentum states of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic and weak crossed electric fields

Georg A. Raithel, M. Fauth

High angular momentum Rydberg states of atoms in strong magnetic fields or in strong magnetic and weak crossed electric fields correspond to classical regular drift trajectories around the positive ion core. The motion can be adiabatically separated in a fast cyclotron motion, an oscillation in magnetic field direction, and a slow drift motion. Some of the drift trajectories display huge electric-dipole moments induced by the weak electric field. Corresponding atomic drift states with large electric dipole moments are theoretically predicted. In the experiment drift states are excited by an optical one-photon transition. The excitation of drift-state atoms is very efficient in the vicinity of anti-crossings between Rydberg states with large photoexcitation cross section and drift states. The drift-state atoms are separated from other Rydberg atoms via electric-dipole deflection in an inhomogeneous electric field. The size of the observed dipole moments agrees quite well with theoretical values.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•May 14, 1995•14 citations

Observation of quasi-Landau wave packets

L. Marmet, H. Held, Georg A. Raithel +2 more

Atomic wave packets are produced in strong magnetic fields by exciting rubidium atoms with a short UV laser pulse. The strength of the magnetic field is varied from 0 to 3.3 T. In a classical model of these Rydberg atoms, this variation leads to a progression of the system from a regime of regular motion to one where chaotic motion dominates. The evolution of the wave packet is observed using a phase-sensitive technique and is compared to the predictions of a semiclassical model. The effect of an electric field, applied parallel to the magentic field, is also studied. As the electric field is increased, significant changes occur that are due in part to the appearance of new orbits.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 13, 1994•60 citations

Highly polar states of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic and weak electric fields

E. Paradis, Stefan Zigo, Georg A. Raithel

We study the spectra of diamagnetic rubidium Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic and weak electric parallel fields, in the $n$-mixing regime. Our emphasis is on isolated pairs of near-degenerate, opposite-parity, diamagnetic states that become mixed by the weak electric field. Such level pairs allow for the generation of nondegenerate states with large, tunable permanent electric dipole moments and large optical excitation cross sections from the atomic ground state. We investigate how the dipole moments and the zero-electric-field energy defects of these level pairs can be tuned using small variations of the electric and magnetic fields. Using calculations, we explore the abundance of such level pairs over wide spectral regions for several magnetic quantum numbers. Applications of polar, diamagnetic Rydberg states in Rydberg-atom interaction experiments are briefly discussed.

Physical Review A•Jan 14, 2013•10 citations

Rydberg states of atoms in parallel electric and magnetic fields

José Paulo Santos, Francisca Mota-Furtado, M.F. Laranjeira +1 more

We present theoretical results for the photoabsorption spectrum of an atom in parallel electric and magnetic fields, using the R-matrix method combined with quantum-defect theory. We introduce a radial basis set which is complete and orthonormal over a semi-infinite interval $[{r}_{0},\ensuremath{\infty}),$ to allow calculations to be performed for high Rydberg states in nonhydrogenic atoms without encountering problems due to linear dependence of the basis set. The nonhydrogenic character of the spectra is analyzed for Li and Rb, and a comparison is made with previous high-precision experiments which shows that the theoretical results agree very well with experiment.

Physical Review A•Feb 1, 1999•8 citations

Rydberg atoms in crossed fields

A A Belov, A. P. Kazantsev, Dmitri V. Khveshchenko +1 more

The spectrum of a Rydberg atom in crossed electric and magnetic fields has been calculated by the methods of classical perturbation theory. Much consideration is given to the region of almost degenerate frequencies, involving mutually normal orientations of fields of any relative value, and also the case when one of the fields is very weak. Strong anisotropy of the electric polarisability in a magnetic field is predicted. In particular, longitudinal and transverse polarisabilities have different signs. The magnetic polarisability in an electric field has been found.

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics•Dec 28, 1985•5 citations
We calculate spectra and wave functions of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields using adiabatic basis sets, which reflect the different time scales of the electronic motion parallel and transverse to the magnetic field. For large absolute values of the azimuthal quantum number m, nonadiabatic corrections are found to be negligible, and the adiabatic basis states and their energies are exact solutions. With decreasing value of ∣m∣,|m|,∣m∣, the system turns nonadiabatic, and the statistical behavior of the spectra changes from being consistent with classically regular to being consistent with classically chaotic motion. A relation describing the parameter region in which this transition occurs is obtained.
We calculate the natural decay rates of Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields. We use adiabatic basis sets that exploit the different time scales of the electronic motion parallel and transverse to the magnetic field. For large absolute values of the azimuthal quantum number m, our approach is very efficient and naturally leads to a classification of the decay modes into magnetron, z-bounce, and cyclotron decays. We discuss the dependence of the decay rates on m, and study the enhancement of the decay rates due to thermal radiation.
High angular momentum Rydberg states of atoms in strong magnetic fields or in strong magnetic and weak crossed electric fields correspond to classical regular drift trajectories around the positive ion core. The motion can be adiabatically separated in a fast cyclotron motion, an oscillation in magnetic field direction, and a slow drift motion. Some of the drift trajectories display huge electric-dipole moments induced by the weak electric field. Corresponding atomic drift states with large electric dipole moments are theoretically predicted. In the experiment drift states are excited by an optical one-photon transition. The excitation of drift-state atoms is very efficient in the vicinity of anti-crossings between Rydberg states with large photoexcitation cross section and drift states. The drift-state atoms are separated from other Rydberg atoms via electric-dipole deflection in an inhomogeneous electric field. The size of the observed dipole moments agrees quite well with theoretical values.
Atomic wave packets are produced in strong magnetic fields by exciting rubidium atoms with a short UV laser pulse. The strength of the magnetic field is varied from 0 to 3.3 T. In a classical model of these Rydberg atoms, this variation leads to a progression of the system from a regime of regular motion to one where chaotic motion dominates. The evolution of the wave packet is observed using a phase-sensitive technique and is compared to the predictions of a semiclassical model. The effect of an electric field, applied parallel to the magentic field, is also studied. As the electric field is increased, significant changes occur that are due in part to the appearance of new orbits.
We study the spectra of diamagnetic rubidium Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic and weak electric parallel fields, in the nnn-mixing regime. Our emphasis is on isolated pairs of near-degenerate, opposite-parity, diamagnetic states that become mixed by the weak electric field. Such level pairs allow for the generation of nondegenerate states with large, tunable permanent electric dipole moments and large optical excitation cross sections from the atomic ground state. We investigate how the dipole moments and the zero-electric-field energy defects of these level pairs can be tuned using small variations of the electric and magnetic fields. Using calculations, we explore the abundance of such level pairs over wide spectral regions for several magnetic quantum numbers. Applications of polar, diamagnetic Rydberg states in Rydberg-atom interaction experiments are briefly discussed.
We present theoretical results for the photoabsorption spectrum of an atom in parallel electric and magnetic fields, using the R-matrix method combined with quantum-defect theory. We introduce a radial basis set which is complete and orthonormal over a semi-infinite interval $[{r}_{0},\ensuremath{\infty}),$ to allow calculations to be performed for high Rydberg states in nonhydrogenic atoms without encountering problems due to linear dependence of the basis set. The nonhydrogenic character of the spectra is analyzed for Li and Rb, and a comparison is made with previous high-precision experiments which shows that the theoretical results agree very well with experiment.
The spectrum of a Rydberg atom in crossed electric and magnetic fields has been calculated by the methods of classical perturbation theory. Much consideration is given to the region of almost degenerate frequencies, involving mutually normal orientations of fields of any relative value, and also the case when one of the fields is very weak. Strong anisotropy of the electric polarisability in a magnetic field is predicted. In particular, longitudinal and transverse polarisabilities have different signs. The magnetic polarisability in an electric field has been found.