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Physical Review Letters

Field effects on the Rydberg product-state distribution from dielectronic recombination

Alfred Müller, D. Belić, Brett D DePaola, Nada Djurić, G. H. Dunn, D. W. Mueller, C. Timmer

Published Jan 13, 1986• 109 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The effects of state mixing by extrinsic fields in the collision region have been investigated for the dielectronic recombination process ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$(3s)+e\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Mg(3p,nl)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Mg(3s ,nl)+h\ensuremath{\nu}. By field ionization of the Rydberg atoms produced, cross sections \ensuremath{\sigma}(${n}_{f}$) have been measured. The observed large changes of \ensuremath{\sigma}(${n}_{f}$) with alteration of the extrinsic field provide the first incontrovertible experimental evidence that dielectronic recombination can be changed by external fields.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.56.127

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Experimental measurements of field effects on dielectronic recombination cross sections and Rydberg product-state distributions

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It should be possible to separate experimentally the contributions to dielectronic recombination (DR) of energetically unresolved intermediate autoionizing Rydberg $nl$ states using electric fields. This notion is based on two essential ideas. First, electric fields enhance the DR rate by Stark-mixing low-$l$ states with high autoionization rates with high-$l$ states with low autoionization rates. Second, the field at which an $l$ state becomes Stark mixed is determined by its quantum defect, a known function of $l$. Consequently, the electric-field dependence of the DR rate should reflect the $l$ dependence of the autoionization rates and thus the contributions of the zero-field $nl$ states to the DR rate. This notion cannot be tested experimentally by examining true DR. However, it can be tested by studying DR from a continuum of finite bandwidth (CFB), for in this case the intermediate Rydberg $nl$ states are restricted to a single value of $l$. Specifically, we have examined the electric-field dependence of DR from two CFB's, the $\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}6{p}_{3∕2}11d$ and $6{p}_{3∕2}8g$ states. In these two cases the intermediate autoionizing Rydberg states are restricted to the $\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}6{p}_{1∕2}nd$ and $6{p}_{1∕2}ng$ states $(l=2\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}\text{and}\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}4)$, which have quantum defects of 0.25 and 0.02, respectively. For the same $n$ they are Stark mixed at fields differing by an order of magnitude. We show experimentally that enhancement of the DR rate occurs at fields differing by a factor of 10 for $nd$ and $ng$ states of the same $n$, as expected, confirming that the field dependence of DR can be used to extract information about the contributions of energetically unresolved $l$ states to the zero-field DR rate.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 2004•3 citations
The effects of state mixing by extrinsic fields in the collision region have been investigated for the dielectronic recombination process Mg+{\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}Mg+(3s)+e\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Mg(3p,nl)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Mg(3s ,nl)+h\ensuremath{\nu}. By field ionization of the Rydberg atoms produced, cross sections \ensuremath{\sigma}(nf{n}_{f}nf​) have been measured. The observed large changes of \ensuremath{\sigma}(nf{n}_{f}nf​) with alteration of the extrinsic field provide the first incontrovertible experimental evidence that dielectronic recombination can be changed by external fields.
Experimental details are presented for the measurement of the effects of extrinsic electric fields on cross sections and Rydberg product-state distributions for dielectronic recombination of Mg+{\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}Mg+ with electrons. A new type of Rydberg state detector is described. Experimental results for dielectronic recombination in the presence of fields are presented for three field values, and these results are compared with theoretical calculations.
This volume offers a timely look at Rydberg states of atoms in external fields and dielectronic recombination. Each topic provides authoritative coverage, presents a fresh account of a flourishing field of current atomic physics and introduces new opportunities for discovery and development. Topics considered include electron-atom scattering in external fields; observations of regular and irregular motion as exemplified by the quadratic zeeman effect and other systems; Rydberg atoms in external fields and the Coulomb geometry; crossed-field effects in the absorption spectrum of lithium in a magnetic field; precise studies of static electric field ionization; widths and shapes of stark resonances in sodium above the saddle point; studies of electric field effects and barium autoionizing resonances; autoionization and dielectronic recombination in plasma electric microfields; dielectronic recombination measurements on multicharged ions; merged beam studies of dielectronic recombination; Rydberg atoms and dielectronic recombination in astrophysics; and observations on dielectronic recombination.
Highly excited (Rydberg) atoms are produced and can exist for significant periods of time in various plasma environments. It is necessary to know cross sections for the various collision processes involving these atoms if a complete understanding of the physics of these environments is to be attained.\nThe experimental investigation of collisional phenomena between high Rydberg sodium atoms and electrons is described in this thesis. A fraction of the atoms in a ground state sodium beam is optically excited (using lasers) to well-defined, high Rydberg states (principal quantum numbers chosen around 40). Subsequent to their production the Rydberg atoms are allowed to interact with 25 eV electrons for a specified time interval following which the collision products are detected. The electrons are produced in a beam which is crossed at right angles with the sodium beam. Important collision processes are (1) electron impact ionization of the Rydberg atom, and (2) electron-Rydberg atom interactions in which the quantum state of the atom is changed (state changing collisions).\nResults are presented for an observed state changing process which is identified as angular momentum state changing only (no change in the value of the principal quantum number). Cross sections for this process are measured to be 10('-10) to 10('-9) cm('2). Problems encountered during the work which prevented the measurement of electron impact ionization cross sections are discussed. In the course of the work two other topics required study: (1) the process of electric field ionization of Rydberg atoms (used to detect the atoms), and (2) the effects of background (300 K) radiation (from the chamber walls, for example) on Rydberg atoms. Results of these studies are also presented.
Using state-selective field ionization, the state distributions of Rydberg atoms in cold Rydberg gases are measured for various initially excited Rydberg levels, populations, and evolution times. We provide direct experimental evidence for lll-changing collisions that we previously observed indirectly [S. K. Dutta, D. Feldbaum, A. Walz-Flannigan, J. R. Guest, and G. Raithel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3993 (2001)]. We also observe nnn-mixing and find that its effects are largely in agreement with recent theoretical work on nnn-changing collisions between electrons and Rydberg atoms, thus enabling an estimation of the electron temperature. Unexpectedly large populations of atoms are found in states with principal quantum numbers much lower than that of the initially excited atoms. We explain this observation by collisions between high-lll Rydberg atoms, which are highly polar and can collide due to static electric-dipole forces between them.
It should be possible to separate experimentally the contributions to dielectronic recombination (DR) of energetically unresolved intermediate autoionizing Rydberg nlnlnl states using electric fields. This notion is based on two essential ideas. First, electric fields enhance the DR rate by Stark-mixing low-lll states with high autoionization rates with high-lll states with low autoionization rates. Second, the field at which an lll state becomes Stark mixed is determined by its quantum defect, a known function of lll. Consequently, the electric-field dependence of the DR rate should reflect the lll dependence of the autoionization rates and thus the contributions of the zero-field nlnlnl states to the DR rate. This notion cannot be tested experimentally by examining true DR. However, it can be tested by studying DR from a continuum of finite bandwidth (CFB), for in this case the intermediate Rydberg nlnlnl states are restricted to a single value of lll. Specifically, we have examined the electric-field dependence of DR from two CFB's, the Ba6p3∕211d\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}6{p}_{3∕2}11dBa6p3∕2​11d and 6p3∕28g6{p}_{3∕2}8g6p3∕2​8g states. In these two cases the intermediate autoionizing Rydberg states are restricted to the Ba6p1∕2nd\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}6{p}_{1∕2}ndBa6p1∕2​nd and 6p1∕2ng6{p}_{1∕2}ng6p1∕2​ng states (l=2and4)(l=2\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}\text{and}\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}4)(l=2and4), which have quantum defects of 0.25 and 0.02, respectively. For the same nnn they are Stark mixed at fields differing by an order of magnitude. We show experimentally that enhancement of the DR rate occurs at fields differing by a factor of 10 for ndndnd and ngngng states of the same nnn, as expected, confirming that the field dependence of DR can be used to extract information about the contributions of energetically unresolved lll states to the zero-field DR rate.