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Le Journal de Physique Colloques

ATOMS IN CROSSED ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

Michael G. Littman, Eric J. Korevaar

Published Nov 1, 1982• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The excitation spectrum of atomic sodium in crossed electric and magnetic fields has been recorded. Data for states near n = 11 are found to be in good agreement with theoretical estimates of line positions. The agreement with estimates of line strengths, however, is only fair. The lack of complete agreement between simple hydrogenic theory and experiment can be traced t o a breakdown of the assumption that the influence of the nearby 12p state is negligibly small. The significance of this experiment is that, for the first time, clear evidence of m-mixing between bound states has been obtained. The dominant effect of the m-mixing has been to make accessible optically many Rydberg states. These states in the presence of electric or magnetic fields alone would not have been accessible because of selection rules on m.

DOI
10.1051/jphyscol:1982240

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Effect of crossed electric and magnetic fields on sodium Rydberg states

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During the last five years, numerous experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out on highly excited atoms in the presence of an external static field, electric or magnetic. The aim of this introductory talk is to show that, consequently, our knowledge of the subject has considerably increased, but that, nevertheless, many questions still remain open.

Le Journal de Physique Colloques•Nov 1, 1982•0 citations

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Experimental results of studying the spectrum of the microwave 37 P -37 S transition of Rydberg sodium atoms in a weak magnetic field (≤7 G) are reported. The populations of the Rydberg states were measured using the method of selective ionization with a pulsed electric field. When the magnetic field was parallel to the ionizing electric field, a good agreement between the calculated and experimental spectral shapes was observed, making it possible to determine the unknown polarization of the microwave radiation. In the case of the orthogonal configuration of the fields, the resonance structure was suppressed in the field ionization signals due to the strong influence of the magnetic field on the electron trajectories in the detection system.

Optics and Spectroscopy•Feb 1, 2001•1 citation

ELECTRIC FIELD IONIZATION OF SODIUM RYDBERG ATOMS

THOMAS H. JEYS

The outer electron of a Rydberg atom is so weakly bound to the atomic core that a relatively small electric field may cause the electron to be stripped from the atom. The field strength at which this ionization happens is strongly dependent on the state of the Rydberg atom. Pulsed electric field ionization serves, therefore, not only as a means by which a Rydberg atom may be efficiently detected, but also a means by which the state of the Rydberg atom may be analyzed.\nThe first observation of predominantly diabatic passage to field ionization of a non-hydrogenic Rydberg atom has resulted in an improved understanding of the adiabatic and diabatic ionization processes. The magnitudes of the various field ionization features have been measured and found to agree with theory, and by detailed analysis, it is now possible to label the various field ionization signal features with the appropriate (VBAR)m(,l)(VBAR) quantum numbers. A much better understanding of the laser excitation process, the Rydberg state production, and the response of the excited state to an increasing electric field has enabled measurement of some Rydberg fine-structure intervals, through observation of field ionization quantum beats.

•Jan 1, 1982•0 citations
The excitation spectrum of atomic sodium in crossed electric and magnetic fields has been recorded. Data for states near n = 11 are found to be in good agreement with theoretical estimates of line positions. The agreement with estimates of line strengths, however, is only fair. The lack of complete agreement between simple hydrogenic theory and experiment can be traced t o a breakdown of the assumption that the influence of the nearby 12p state is negligibly small. The significance of this experiment is that, for the first time, clear evidence of m-mixing between bound states has been obtained. The dominant effect of the m-mixing has been to make accessible optically many Rydberg states. These states in the presence of electric or magnetic fields alone would not have been accessible because of selection rules on m.
Nous avons enregistré le spectre d'excitation de l'atome de sodium placé dans deux champs perpendiculaires, électrique et magnétique. La comparaison des états proches de n = 11 et des estimations théoriques des positions de raies est bonne. La comparaison est moins bonne en ce qui concerne l'amplitude des raies. La divergence entre les résultats experimentaux et la théorie simple de l'approximation de Coulomb peut être attribuée à l'influence non négligeable de l'état 12p voisin. Ces résultats signifient que, pour la première fois, le "m-mixing" des états lies a été mis en évidence. L'effect dominant du "m-mixing" a été de rendre possible l'accès à un nombre accru d'états de Rydberg par voie optique. Ces états sont en effect inaccessibles en présence du seul champ électrique, ou magnétique, à cause des lois de sélection sur m.
We present results of an experimental survey of the n=15n=15n=15 state of Na in electric fields from 0 to 4 kV/cm. Both linear and higher-order Stark effects play important roles. States with low ∣m∣|m|∣m∣ show marked differences from hydrogenic behavior, particularly in the vicinity of level crossings. Computed values for the energy levels are in good agreement with the data. The experimental method provides a simple technique for populating selected Stark or angular momentum levels of a Rydberg state.
Experimental results of studying the spectrum of the microwave 37 P -37 S transition of Rydberg sodium atoms in a weak magnetic field (≤7 G) are reported. The populations of the Rydberg states were measured using the method of selective ionization with a pulsed electric field. When the magnetic field was parallel to the ionizing electric field, a good agreement between the calculated and experimental spectral shapes was observed, making it possible to determine the unknown polarization of the microwave radiation. In the case of the orthogonal configuration of the fields, the resonance structure was suppressed in the field ionization signals due to the strong influence of the magnetic field on the electron trajectories in the detection system.
The outer electron of a Rydberg atom is so weakly bound to the atomic core that a relatively small electric field may cause the electron to be stripped from the atom. The field strength at which this ionization happens is strongly dependent on the state of the Rydberg atom. Pulsed electric field ionization serves, therefore, not only as a means by which a Rydberg atom may be efficiently detected, but also a means by which the state of the Rydberg atom may be analyzed.\nThe first observation of predominantly diabatic passage to field ionization of a non-hydrogenic Rydberg atom has resulted in an improved understanding of the adiabatic and diabatic ionization processes. The magnitudes of the various field ionization features have been measured and found to agree with theory, and by detailed analysis, it is now possible to label the various field ionization signal features with the appropriate (VBAR)m(,l)(VBAR) quantum numbers. A much better understanding of the laser excitation process, the Rydberg state production, and the response of the excited state to an increasing electric field has enabled measurement of some Rydberg fine-structure intervals, through observation of field ionization quantum beats.