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

Contemporary Physics

Probing the spatial distribution of excited atomic states

Yacoub Makdisi, K. S. Bhatia, J P Connerade

Published Mar 1, 1997• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We review several new optical techniques which reveal the spatial distribution of excited atomic states. These techniques have been developed in different laboratories, largely as a result of exploiting laser excitation, which provides additional flexibility in the choice of excitation paths. Several methods are in use, which possess different advantages, but all share one common property. They sample the wavefunction of the excited state at different radii using different excitation paths, and are thereby sensitive to size. Amongst the radial phenomena which control the size of an atomic orbital, the most important are the centrifugal barrier effects which determine orbital collapse.

DOI
10.1080/001075197182478

Related papers

Selective excitation of atoms and molecules by ultrashort laser pulses

Anahit L. Gogyan, Yuri P. Malakyan

Efficient excitation of an ensemble of atoms and molecules to a desired state is of fundamental importance not only for spectroscopy but also for quantum control of molecular dynamics in chemical and biological processes. The latter usually occurs on a much shorter time scale (in the femtosecond range) giving rise to steadily advanced problem how to excite one of the nearby levels, even when they are well within the broad fs pulse spectrum. We propose a new effective method for selective excitation of atoms based on the atomic coherence and discuss a sensitive method to verify experimentally the proposed mechanism using the technique of quantum beating in pump-probe experiments.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Dec 22, 2008•1 citation

Number-resolved imaging of excited-state atoms using a scanning autoionization microscope

G. Lochead, D. Boddy, D. P. Sadler +2 more

We report on a scanning microscopy technique for atom-number-resolved imaging of excited-state atoms. A tightly focused laser beam leads to local autoionization and the resulting ions are counted electronically. Scanning the beam across the cloud builds up an image of the density distribution of excited atoms, with access to the full counting statistics at each spatial sampling point and an overall detection efficiency of $21%$. We apply this technique to the measurement of a spatially inhomogeneous electric field with a spatial resolution of 50 $\ensuremath{\mu}$m and a sensitivity to electric-field gradients of 0.04 V cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$.

arXiv:1212.3270•Physical Review A•May 1, 2013•53 citations

Coherent control of spin and orbital wavepackets of donors in silicon using mid-infrared and terahertz light

Steven Chick

Quantum computation holds the promise of efficient solutions to currently formidable problems. A prospective technology is that of computing using quantum states, which may dramatically speed up or otherwise reduce the complexity for the solution of some hard problems. Of the many different schemes proposed, shallow substitutional donors in Silicon hold great attractiveness for the detailed study of the medium, high industrial capacity, and ubiquity of raw materials. We develop control over the quantum orbital and spin states of bound electrons using the THz ultrafast laser FELIX. \nManipulation of orbital states is studied using interferometric methods to produce Ramsey fringes, read out using optical and electrical methods. Contactless electrical measurement of free charge carriers is implemented, and the details of its advantages and limitations are explored. Both types of readout are used to demonstrate a coherent 3-level orbital manipulation, otherwise known as a quantum beat. The work constitutes a nontrivial control over the spatial distribution of the wavefunction of the atom which may enable error correcting surface code implementations. \nSpin dynamics are then explored in the presence of FELIX using donor-bound exciton techniques, which allow a sensitive and fast control over the electron spin states. The implementation is used to probe whether orbital excitation has a strong effect upon the spin states of the donor electrons, and it is shown that any modification of the spin is negligible. Experimental measurements of optically gated spin-exchange coupling are enabled by this methodology, and a roadmap to future implementation is discussed in the context of the present work. \nOverall, the work advances the state of spin and orbital control of neutral donor states for the purposes of optically gated quantum computing. Combined spin and orbital manipulations are now possible in the system, which will allow a more advanced implementation of quantum computation using orbital states than was previously possible.

•Jan 31, 2017•0 citations

Highly excited atomic states

Борис М. Смирнов

The properties of highly excited atoms are examined. Methods for producing and detecting such atoms are analyzed. Various processes that involve atoms in Rydberg states are described, including transitions between high-lying excited states induced by collisions with electrons and atoms, quenching by electrons and atoms, ionization by collisions with electrons, atoms, and molecules, charge exchange with ions, and so on.

Soviet Physics Uspekhi•Aug 31, 1980•15 citations

Shannon entropy as an indicator for the orbital shape manipulation of a hydrogen atom under a repulsive single barrier potential

Koustav D. Chakladar, Santanu Mondal, Sukhamoy Bhattacharyya +1 more

The effect of a penetrable repulsive single-barrier potential on the structural properties of hydrogen atom in ground and different excited (n,l) states [n=1-3, l=0-2] is studied. The Lagrange mesh method is adopted to solve the corresponding Schrodinger equation numerically for energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. Different novel features and phenomena e.g. shrinking the size of the atom, atomic swelling, orbital fusion and fission etc. are noted when the strength of the barrier is changed by tuning its position and height. It is remarkable that all such alterations of the atomic orbital are well articulated from the Shannon entropy profile.

Suplemento de la Revista Mexicana de Física•May 21, 2025•2 citations

Recent experiments involving highly excited atoms

Colin J. Latimer

Very large and fragile atoms may be produced by exciting normal atoms with light or by collisions with other atomic particles. Atoms as large as 10−6 m are now routinely produced in the laboratory and their properties studied. In this review some of the simpler experimental methods available for the production and detection of such atoms are described including tunable dye laser-excitation and field ionization. A few recent experiments which illustrate the collision properties and the effects of electric and magnetic fields are also described. The relevance of highly excited atoms in other areas of research including radioastronomy and isotope separation are discussed.

Contemporary Physics•Nov 1, 1979•21 citations
We review several new optical techniques which reveal the spatial distribution of excited atomic states. These techniques have been developed in different laboratories, largely as a result of exploiting laser excitation, which provides additional flexibility in the choice of excitation paths. Several methods are in use, which possess different advantages, but all share one common property. They sample the wavefunction of the excited state at different radii using different excitation paths, and are thereby sensitive to size. Amongst the radial phenomena which control the size of an atomic orbital, the most important are the centrifugal barrier effects which determine orbital collapse.
Efficient excitation of an ensemble of atoms and molecules to a desired state is of fundamental importance not only for spectroscopy but also for quantum control of molecular dynamics in chemical and biological processes. The latter usually occurs on a much shorter time scale (in the femtosecond range) giving rise to steadily advanced problem how to excite one of the nearby levels, even when they are well within the broad fs pulse spectrum. We propose a new effective method for selective excitation of atoms based on the atomic coherence and discuss a sensitive method to verify experimentally the proposed mechanism using the technique of quantum beating in pump-probe experiments.
We report on a scanning microscopy technique for atom-number-resolved imaging of excited-state atoms. A tightly focused laser beam leads to local autoionization and the resulting ions are counted electronically. Scanning the beam across the cloud builds up an image of the density distribution of excited atoms, with access to the full counting statistics at each spatial sampling point and an overall detection efficiency of 2121%21. We apply this technique to the measurement of a spatially inhomogeneous electric field with a spatial resolution of 50 $\ensuremath{\mu}$m and a sensitivity to electric-field gradients of 0.04 V cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$.
Quantum computation holds the promise of efficient solutions to currently formidable problems. A prospective technology is that of computing using quantum states, which may dramatically speed up or otherwise reduce the complexity for the solution of some hard problems. Of the many different schemes proposed, shallow substitutional donors in Silicon hold great attractiveness for the detailed study of the medium, high industrial capacity, and ubiquity of raw materials. We develop control over the quantum orbital and spin states of bound electrons using the THz ultrafast laser FELIX. \nManipulation of orbital states is studied using interferometric methods to produce Ramsey fringes, read out using optical and electrical methods. Contactless electrical measurement of free charge carriers is implemented, and the details of its advantages and limitations are explored. Both types of readout are used to demonstrate a coherent 3-level orbital manipulation, otherwise known as a quantum beat. The work constitutes a nontrivial control over the spatial distribution of the wavefunction of the atom which may enable error correcting surface code implementations. \nSpin dynamics are then explored in the presence of FELIX using donor-bound exciton techniques, which allow a sensitive and fast control over the electron spin states. The implementation is used to probe whether orbital excitation has a strong effect upon the spin states of the donor electrons, and it is shown that any modification of the spin is negligible. Experimental measurements of optically gated spin-exchange coupling are enabled by this methodology, and a roadmap to future implementation is discussed in the context of the present work. \nOverall, the work advances the state of spin and orbital control of neutral donor states for the purposes of optically gated quantum computing. Combined spin and orbital manipulations are now possible in the system, which will allow a more advanced implementation of quantum computation using orbital states than was previously possible.
The effect of a penetrable repulsive single-barrier potential on the structural properties of hydrogen atom in ground and different excited (n,l) states [n=1-3, l=0-2] is studied. The Lagrange mesh method is adopted to solve the corresponding Schrodinger equation numerically for energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. Different novel features and phenomena e.g. shrinking the size of the atom, atomic swelling, orbital fusion and fission etc. are noted when the strength of the barrier is changed by tuning its position and height. It is remarkable that all such alterations of the atomic orbital are well articulated from the Shannon entropy profile.
Very large and fragile atoms may be produced by exciting normal atoms with light or by collisions with other atomic particles. Atoms as large as 10−6 m are now routinely produced in the laboratory and their properties studied. In this review some of the simpler experimental methods available for the production and detection of such atoms are described including tunable dye laser-excitation and field ionization. A few recent experiments which illustrate the collision properties and the effects of electric and magnetic fields are also described. The relevance of highly excited atoms in other areas of research including radioastronomy and isotope separation are discussed.