Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Nonadiabatic behavior of the polarization of electric-field-induced Lyman-α radiation

O. Plotzke, Uwe Wille, R. Hippler, Hans O. Lutz

Published Dec 10, 1990• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The linear polarization of Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation emitted when hydrogen atoms in the metastable 2${\mathit{s}}_{1/2}$ state traverse an external electric field is studied as a function of the effective rise time of the field for field strengths extending from very small values up to 6 keV/cm. With decreasing rise time, the measured polarization exhibits a transition from adiabatic to sudden behavior. The transition region is centered at a rise time which is approximately equal to the characteristic time associated with the 2${\mathit{s}}_{1/2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$2${\mathit{p}}_{1/2}$ Lamb splitting in the unperturbed hydrogen system. The experimental data are well described by the results of a time-dependent theory.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.65.2982

Related papers

Complete linear polarization of Lyman-αradiation from metastable hydrogen atoms in external electric fields

Wolfgang Harbich, R. Hippler, Hans Kleinpoppen +1 more

The linear Stark effect of hydrogen was investigated for the metastable H(2s) state measuring the degree of linear polarization of field-induced Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation. For sufficiently large electric fields (few kV/cm) the measured degree of linear polarization P is almost complete (P\ensuremath{\approxeq}-100%). This result is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, if the fine structure of hydrogen is taken into account.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1989•13 citations

Polarization of Quench-Induced Lyman- α Radiation

John W. Wooten, J. H. Macek

The polarization of quench-induced ${\mathrm{L}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ radiation is calculated for a metastable hydrogen atom entering an electric field with entry conditions intermediate between adiabatic and impulsive. We find that for most common experimental geometries the adiabatic value for the polarization may be used with less than 10% error.

Physical Review A•Jan 1, 1972•17 citations

Polarization of Lyman- α Radiation Emitted in Electron Collisions with Hydrogen Atoms and Molecules

William R. Ott, Walter E. Kauppila, Wade L. Fite

The polarizations of Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation produced (i) by electron impact on atomic and molecular hydrogen and (ii) by electric field quenching of metastable $2S$ hydrogen atoms have been measured. The polarization analyzer was a LiF crystal set at the Brewster angle, with reflected radiation being detected by an iodine-vapor photon counter. Generally good agreement between the measured polarization fractions and recent theoretical predictions was found. The radiation produced by quenching metastable atoms in an electric field was found to be polarized with a polarization fraction of -0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, which compares with the theoretical value -0.323.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1970•118 citations

Lyman-α radiation of a probing metastable hydrogen beam to measure electric fields in diluted fluids and plasmas

F. Doveil, A. Lejeune, Laurence Chérigier-Kovacic

The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. For larger electric field, saturation is observed and related to the beam finite transit time. We also observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.

Physics of Plasmas•Apr 15, 2013•5 citations

Lyman-α radiation of a metastable hydrogen beam to measure electric fields

A. Lejeune, Laurence Chérigier-Kovacic, F. Doveil

The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. We observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.

Applied Physics Letters•Oct 31, 2011•7 citations

Second-harmonic generation in atomic hydrogen at Lyman-α

L. Marmet, K. Hakuta, Boris Peter Stoicheff

We have observed second-harmonic generation in atomic hydrogen in the Lyman-α region, with and without an applied dc electric field, Ea. Experiments with a continuous atomic beam were carried out by using a pulsed dye laser tuned to 243 nm for excitation of the n = 2-1 transition. The laser beam was focused 0.4 mm below the H-source nozzle, where the H-atom density was estimated to be 5 × 1013 cm-3. Measurements of second-harmonic generation (SHG) at ~122 nm were made at various electric fields up to ~27 kV/cm. It was shown that the SH signal produced at E a = 0 occurs because of a charge-separation field of ~800 V/cm that is caused by three-photon ionization. Measurements of the SHG and ion current were found to vary as I2 L and I3 L , respectively. At high fields (E a > 10 kV/cm) the SH signal at the center of the Stark-split components decreased somewhat from the peak value, but the ion current (corresponding to photon absorption) approached zero. This observation is a clear demonstration of a similar effect, predicted by Harris et al.1 of efficient nonlinear conversion with induced transparency, and it suggests the possibility of obtaining intense Lyman-a radiation.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations
The linear polarization of Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation emitted when hydrogen atoms in the metastable 2s1/2{\mathit{s}}_{1/2}s1/2​ state traverse an external electric field is studied as a function of the effective rise time of the field for field strengths extending from very small values up to 6 keV/cm. With decreasing rise time, the measured polarization exhibits a transition from adiabatic to sudden behavior. The transition region is centered at a rise time which is approximately equal to the characteristic time associated with the 2s1/2\ensuremath−{\mathit{s}}_{1/2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}s1/2\ensuremath−​2p1/2{\mathit{p}}_{1/2}p1/2​ Lamb splitting in the unperturbed hydrogen system. The experimental data are well described by the results of a time-dependent theory.
The polarizations of Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation produced (i) by electron impact on atomic and molecular hydrogen and (ii) by electric field quenching of metastable 2S2S2S hydrogen atoms have been measured. The polarization analyzer was a LiF crystal set at the Brewster angle, with reflected radiation being detected by an iodine-vapor photon counter. Generally good agreement between the measured polarization fractions and recent theoretical predictions was found. The radiation produced by quenching metastable atoms in an electric field was found to be polarized with a polarization fraction of -0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, which compares with the theoretical value -0.323.
The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. For larger electric field, saturation is observed and related to the beam finite transit time. We also observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.
The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. We observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.
We have observed second-harmonic generation in atomic hydrogen in the Lyman-α region, with and without an applied dc electric field, Ea. Experiments with a continuous atomic beam were carried out by using a pulsed dye laser tuned to 243 nm for excitation of the n = 2-1 transition. The laser beam was focused 0.4 mm below the H-source nozzle, where the H-atom density was estimated to be 5 × 1013 cm-3. Measurements of second-harmonic generation (SHG) at ~122 nm were made at various electric fields up to ~27 kV/cm. It was shown that the SH signal produced at E a = 0 occurs because of a charge-separation field of ~800 V/cm that is caused by three-photon ionization. Measurements of the SHG and ion current were found to vary as I2 L and I3 L , respectively. At high fields (E a > 10 kV/cm) the SH signal at the center of the Stark-split components decreased somewhat from the peak value, but the ion current (corresponding to photon absorption) approached zero. This observation is a clear demonstration of a similar effect, predicted by Harris et al.1 of efficient nonlinear conversion with induced transparency, and it suggests the possibility of obtaining intense Lyman-a radiation.