Self-broadenings and frequency shifts of ${n}^{2}S$ and ${n}^{2}D$ Rydberg levels (up to $n\ensuremath{\sim}70$) have been measured for rubidium in the pressure range of 3 to 100 mTorr, and the general dependence on principal quantum number $n$ has been established for this low-pressure regime. A closer examination has revealed large (almost evenly spaced) oscillations in the dependence of linewidth on principal quantum number for the $^{2}S$ levels in the region of largest linewidth ($n\ensuremath{\sim}20 \mathrm{to} 30$).Self-broadenings and frequency shifts of ${n}^{2}S$ and ${n}^{2}D$ Rydberg levels (up to $n\ensuremath{\sim}70$) have been measured for rubidium in the pressure range of 3 to 100 mTorr, and the general dependence on principal quantum number $n$ has been established for this low-pressure regime. A closer examination has revealed large (almost evenly spaced) oscillations in the dependence of linewidth on principal quantum number for the $^{2}S$ levels in the region of largest linewidth ($n\ensuremath{\sim}20 \mathrm{to} 30$).

Physical Review LettersMar 17, 198084 citations

Frequency shifts and line broadenings in collisions between Rydberg and ground-state alkali-metal atoms

Douglas C. Thompson, E. Weinberger, Guoqing Xu +1 more

The technique of Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy was used to measure rates for line broadenings and frequency shifts of Rydberg levels with pressure. Measurements were made of spectra of $^{2}\mathrm{S}$ and $^{2}\mathrm{D}$ states (with n\ensuremath{\sim}10--40) for ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$ +Rb and ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$ +K, and of $^{2}\mathrm{S}$ states (with n=14--29) for ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$ +Rb. Large oscillations are observed in both broadening and shift rates for n\ensuremath{\sim}20--30 in all series except for the $^{2}\mathrm{D}$ series in ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$ +Rb. Overall rates for broadening and shift are compared with a theory based on the ``free-electron'' model. The observed oscillations are inconsistent with theories based on the resonance scattering of the Rydberg electron by the perturbing atom. A possible alternative mechanism related to interference in l-mixing collisions is suggested.The technique of Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy was used to measure rates for line broadenings and frequency shifts of Rydberg levels with pressure. Measurements were made of spectra of $^{2}\mathrm{S}$ and $^{2}\mathrm{D}$ states (with n\ensuremath{\sim}10--40) for ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$+Rb and ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$+K, and of $^{2}\mathrm{S}$ states (with n=14--29) for ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$+Rb. Large oscillations are observed in both broadening and shift rates for n\ensuremath{\sim}20--30 in all series except for the $^{2}\mathrm{D}$ series in ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}$+Rb. Overall rates for broadening and shift are compared with a theory based on the ``free-electron'' model. The observed oscillations are inconsistent with theories based on the resonance scattering of the Rydberg electron by the perturbing atom. A possible alternative mechanism related to interference in l-mixing collisions is suggested.

Physical Review AJan 1, 198735 citations

Line-broadening studies of highly excited Rb atoms (A)

Paul R. Bolton, Kenneth C. Harvey, Boris Peter Stoicheff

Journal of the Optical Society of America AJan 1, 19772 citations

Self-broadenings and frequency shifts of

{n}^{2}S

and

{n}^{2}D

Rydberg levels (up to $n\ensuremath{\sim}70$) have been measured for rubidium in the pressure range of 3 to 100 mTorr, and the general dependence on principal quantum number

n

has been established for this low-pressure regime. A closer examination has revealed large (almost evenly spaced) oscillations in the dependence of linewidth on principal quantum number for the

^{2}S

levels in the region of largest linewidth ($n\ensuremath{\sim}20 \mathrm{to} 30$).

The technique of Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy was used to measure rates for line broadenings and frequency shifts of Rydberg levels with pressure. Measurements were made of spectra of

^{2}\mathrm{S}

and

^{2}\mathrm{D}

states (with n\ensuremath{\sim}10--40) for

{\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}

+Rb and

{\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}

+K, and of

^{2}\mathrm{S}

states (with n=14--29) for

{\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}

+Rb. Large oscillations are observed in both broadening and shift rates for n\ensuremath{\sim}20--30 in all series except for the

^{2}\mathrm{D}

series in

{\mathrm{Rb}}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{*}}

+Rb. Overall rates for broadening and shift are compared with a theory based on the ``free-electron'' model. The observed oscillations are inconsistent with theories based on the resonance scattering of the Rydberg electron by the perturbing atom. A possible alternative mechanism related to interference in l-mixing collisions is suggested.