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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Ionisation of excited caesium atoms (9.4⩽n*⩽ or ≈29) in collisions with Cs(6S)

Vitas Švedas

Published Jan 28, 1988• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The ionisation yields of the optically excited caesium atoms (9.4<or=n*<or approximately=29) are measured in a vapour cell at a caesium vapour density of about 10 14 cm -3 . Direct ionisation rate constants are given for Rydberg atoms with 9.4<or=n*<or=21.4. Collisions with caesium ground-state atoms and black-body radiation strongly modify the population of Rydberg levels with n*>or approximately=25 so the concept of direct collisional ionisation cannot be applied to those levels. The diffusional ionisation mechanism of Rydberg atoms in vapour cells, atomic beams or buffer gases is discussed.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/21/2/014

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The ionisation yields of the optically excited caesium atoms (9.4<or=n*<or approximately=29) are measured in a vapour cell at a caesium vapour density of about 10 14 cm -3 . Direct ionisation rate constants are given for Rydberg atoms with 9.4<or=n*<or=21.4. Collisions with caesium ground-state atoms and black-body radiation strongly modify the population of Rydberg levels with n*>or approximately=25 so the concept of direct collisional ionisation cannot be applied to those levels. The diffusional ionisation mechanism of Rydberg atoms in vapour cells, atomic beams or buffer gases is discussed.
The ionisation of highly excited Rydberg atoms in collisions with ground-state atoms is considered. The stationary diffusion-like mechanism of the ionisation is presented. The investigation is based on the Fokker-Planck equation. Analytical expressions for the probabilities of stationary diffusive ionisation are obtained and applied for the explanation of experimental results on the ionisation of highly excited Rydberg states of caesium in collisions with ground-state Cs atoms. It is concluded that the diffusive mechanism is the main mechanism for collisional ionisation of Rydberg atoms with n>or approximately=25-30.
The authors present experimental results on the ionisation probabilities of highly excited Rydberg S and D states of caesium in collisions with ground-state Cs atoms. The measurements were done in a thermionic diode using two-photon excitation of Rydberg states with principal quantum numbers in the range 18 to 60. Over the investigated range (0.17 to 12 mTorr) a simple exponential dependence of the ionisation probabilities on binding energy and pressure was found. The authors also measured the intensity ratios of the fine-structure doublets in 6S 1/2 to nD two-photon transitions and find good agreement with theoretical calculations. From the results they conclude that the collisional ionisation probabilities are independent of orbital and total angular momentum.
Measurements of the time-resolved fluorescence from some highly excited states of 133Cs atoms (n2D3/2, n2D5/2 and n2S1/2(n-4)2F; n=9 to 15) have shown multi-exponential behaviour which depends on vapour pressure. This behaviour is the result of mixing of population caused by collisions between the excited and ground-state atoms. The variation of the exponential rate constants with vapour density yields the free-atom lifetimes and collisional transfer cross sections of these excited states. An analogy is drawn between this variation and that of the energy eigenvalues of an atom under external perturbation.
Laser-induced collisional ionisation of caesium is observed in a strontium-caesium vapour mixture. In their initial state both atomic species are in the ground level. The ionisation of caesium is achieved when the system is illuminated by an intense laser light, the frequency of which is tuned across the resonance line of strontium. The process involves photoabsorption during the collisional interaction. It is monitored by the observation of optical fluorescence after Cs + , e - recombination. The laser-induced collisional ionisation profile, i.e. the variation of the ionisation yield against the laser wavelength is recorded under various experimental conditions.
Collisional transfer of excitation energy from cadmium to caesium was investigated using methods of sensitized fluorescence. A mixture of cadmium and caesium vapors at low pressure was irradiated with Cd 3263.0 Å resonance radiation producing a population of Cd (53P1) atoms whose inelastic collisions with ground-state Cs atoms resulted in a transfer of excitation energy to a close-lying S, P, D and F states in caesium. The subsequent decay of these states manifested itself in the emission of sensitized fluorescence spectrum. Intensity measurements on the components of the spectrum by means of energy calibrated detector yielded some 50 cross-section values whose magnitudes range from 0.2 Å2 to 30.0 Å2 and which exhibit a pronounced resonances with ΔE the energy defect between Cd (53P1) and the appropriate level in caesium.
An experimental study of energy transfer collisions, Cs(6P)+Cs(6S)+He→Cs(5D) + Cs(6S)+He, at thermal energies, was carried out in a cell. Atoms were excited to the 6P3/2 state using a single-mode diode laser. The Cs(6P) atom density and spatial distribution were mapped by monitoring the absorption of a counter-propagating laser beam. The buffer gas enhanced the energy transfer between Cs(6P) and Cs(6S), which was based on the measurement of the fluorescence from the 7D state populated by the Cs(6P)/Cs(5D) collisions. Since the 5D→6P fluorescence(3.0-3.6μm) can not be detected with this experiment, the rate coefficient has been measured relative to the known rate coefficient of the collision (i.e., 6P+5D→6S+7D). The three-body collision rate coefficient [k3 = (2.2±1.1)×10-28cm6s-1] is obtained.