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Physical Review A

Selective field ionization in Li and Rb: Theory and experiment

F. Robicheaux, C. Wesdorp, Lambertus D. Noordam

Published Sep 13, 2000• 29 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a direct comparison between calculated and measured ionization in Li and Rb when an initially bound Rydberg electron is stripped from the atom by ramping an electric field [0.415 V/(cm ns)]. We describe the method used to calculate the field dependence of the ionization; the method can be used to evolve the population from field strengths where three or more n manifolds cross to the fields where the electron is stripped from the atom. The essential feature of the method is the repeated application of the Landau-Zener approximation for all of the level crossings as the field is ramped. We also give a description of the dynamics of Li and Rb in the ramping field. We observe that the Li selective field ionization is sensitive to the Stark levels within an n manifold, while for Rb only an n dependence is observed.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.62.043404

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We present a direct comparison between calculated and measured ionization in Li and Rb when an initially bound Rydberg electron is stripped from the atom by ramping an electric field [0.415 V/(cm ns)]. We describe the method used to calculate the field dependence of the ionization; the method can be used to evolve the population from field strengths where three or more n manifolds cross to the fields where the electron is stripped from the atom. The essential feature of the method is the repeated application of the Landau-Zener approximation for all of the level crossings as the field is ramped. We also give a description of the dynamics of Li and Rb in the ramping field. We observe that the Li selective field ionization is sensitive to the Stark levels within an n manifold, while for Rb only an n dependence is observed.
The electron signals from the field ionization of two closely spaced Rydberg states of rubidium-85 are separated using quantum control. In selective field ionization, the state distribution of a collection of Rydberg atoms is measured by ionizing the atoms with a ramped electric field. Generally, atoms in higher energy states ionize at lower fields, so ionized electrons which are detected earlier in time can be correlated with higher energy Rydberg states. However, the resolution of this technique is limited by the Stark effect. As the electric field is increased, the electron encounters numerous avoided Stark level crossings which split the amplitude among many states, thus broadening the time-resolved ionization signal. Previously, a genetic algorithm has been used to control the signal shape of a single Rydberg state. The present work extends this technique to separate the signals from the 34s34s34s and 33p33p33p states of rubidium-85, which are overlapped when using a simple field ramp as in selective field ionization.
Field ionization of high Rydberg manifold states (n=112–137)(n=112\text{--}137)(n=112–137) of rubidium-85 under a rotating electric field has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. Applying a rapidly reversed electric field with a small static perpendicular field to rotate the total electric field around zero, we have observed substantial increase of the fraction of the tunneling field-ionization process and a profound broadening of its ionization peak over a wide range of field strengths with increasing transverse electric field. The observed tunneling field-ionization fraction is almost independent of the slew rate of the applied electric field, and also on the principal quantum number nnn over the range investigated. To compare with these experimental results, theoretical calculations have been performed with a successive two-step regime. As the first step we calculated the redistributions of magnetic quantum number ${m}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$ and parabolic quantum number ${n}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{n}_{2}$ of the states under the rotating electric field. Then the following time evolution of the manifold states with $\ensuremath{\mid}{m}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}\ensuremath{\mid}\ensuremath{\leqslant}3$ was traced on the Stark map in a coherent as well as an incoherent model. The calculated results are generally in good agreement with the experimental ones. The increase of the tunneling field-ionization fraction under a rotating electric field plays an essential role in achieving the high efficiency in the recently proposed selective-field-ionization scheme for high Rydberg atoms.
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.
The high-l Rydberg Stark states are populated by the state transfer from initial prepared nS Rydberg state via avoided crossings induced by a weak electric-field pulse, and investigated by the state selective field ionization method in a cesium standard magneto-optical trap. The dependences of the transfer rate, given by the ratio of the number of high-l Stark states to all atoms, on the strength and holding time of electric-field pulse are investigated and compared with those with additional ions. The results show that the time evolution of high-l Stark states strongly depends on the electric-field strength, and is affected by the additional ions at relatively weaker field (1.51 V/cm here). The density of Rydberg atoms has a minor effect on the characteristic time of evolution process.
We have studied ionization of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation (BBR). The results of theoretical calculations of ionization rates of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs Rydberg atoms are presented. The calculations have been performed for nS, nP and nD states for principal quantum numbers n=8-65 at ambient temperatures of 77, 300 and 600 K. The calculations take into account the contributions of BBR-induced redistribution of population between Rydberg states prior to photoionization and field ionization by extraction electric field pulses. The obtained results show that these phenomena affect both the magnitude of the measured ionization rates and their n-dependence. A Cooper minimum for BBR-induced transitions between bound Rydberg states of Li has been found. The calculated ionization rates are compared with our earlier measurements of BBR-induced ionization rates of Na nS and nD Rydberg states with n=8-20 at 300 K. A good agreement for all states except nS with n> 15 is observed. Useful analytical formulas for quick estimates of BBR ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. Application of BBR-induced ionization signal to