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Physical Review A

Field ionization of highly excited states of sodium

Thomas F. Gallagher, L. M. Humphrey, William E. Cooke, R. M. Hill, S. A. Edelstein

Published Sep 1, 1977• 186 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have observed the selective ionization of the degenerate $|{m}_{j}|$ levels of $s$, $p$, and $d$ states of sodium in the range of $n$ from 15 to 20 and have shown that atoms produced in these low-field (\ensuremath{\sim} 10 V/cm) states pass adiabatically from low-field $|{m}_{j}|$ to intermediate-field $|{m}_{l}|$ states. Experiments on the Stark manifold states in intermediate fields (\ensuremath{\sim} 1 kV/cm) and high fields (\ensuremath{\sim} 4 kV/cm) show that the $|{m}_{l}|=0 \mathrm{and} 1$ states pass adiabatically from intermediate- to high-field states and that the passage of the $|{m}_{l}|=2$ states is very nearly adiabatic. These findings suggest a general approach for predicting the threshold fields for ionization of atomic Rydberg states.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.16.1098

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We have observed the selective ionization of the degenerate ∣mj∣|{m}_{j}|∣mj​∣ levels of sss, ppp, and ddd states of sodium in the range of nnn from 15 to 20 and have shown that atoms produced in these low-field (\ensuremath{\sim} 10 V/cm) states pass adiabatically from low-field ∣mj∣|{m}_{j}|∣mj​∣ to intermediate-field ∣ml∣|{m}_{l}|∣ml​∣ states. Experiments on the Stark manifold states in intermediate fields (\ensuremath{\sim} 1 kV/cm) and high fields (\ensuremath{\sim} 4 kV/cm) show that the ∣ml∣=0and1|{m}_{l}|=0 \mathrm{and} 1∣ml​∣=0and1 states pass adiabatically from intermediate- to high-field states and that the passage of the ∣ml∣=2|{m}_{l}|=2∣ml​∣=2 states is very nearly adiabatic. These findings suggest a general approach for predicting the threshold fields for ionization of atomic Rydberg states.
In the electric field ionization of highly excited sss, ppp, and ddd states of Na, we have observed one, two, and three ionization thresholds, respectively, reflecting the number of high-field ∣ml∣|{m}_{l}|∣ml​∣ states coming from the sss, ppp, and ddd states. Our observations indicate that the passage from low to intermediate field is adiabatic, and as a consequence we are able to achieve selective ionization of essentially degenerate low-field ∣ml∣|{m}_{l}|∣ml​∣ fine-structure levels.
We report the electric field ionization of the n=8--15 levels of Na using field pulses of rise time \ensuremath{\sim}1 \ensuremath{\mu}s. The passage from low to high field is adiabatic, and the fields required for \ensuremath{\Vert}ml{m}_{l}ml​\ensuremath{\Vert}=0, 1, and 2 states are 3.12(9)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}108{10}^{8}108${n}_{s}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ V/cm, 3.37(11)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}108{10}^{8}108${n}_{s}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ V/cm, and 3.68(21)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}108{10}^{8}108${n}_{s}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ V/cm. Here ns{n}_{s}ns​ is the effective quantum number in the ionizing field. These values are in agreement with those determined previously for higher-lying states.
Utilizing the technique of high resolution selective field ionization it is possible to observe ionization structure as narrow as 2 V/cm for Na(nS,nD) atoms. Field ionization structure this narrow is characteristic of atoms evolving predominantly adiabatically in a rapidly increasing electric field. By increasing the slew rate of the applied field it is possible to induce departures from the adiabatic path at specific avoided level crossings. These departures result in multiple ionization thresholds which may be explained by arguments based on a simple quantum mechanical model of adiabatic field ionization.
Selective field ionization (SFI) is frequently used to detect atoms in high Rydberg states and to analyze Rydberg population distributions. In order to realize the full potential of this technique, however, a detailed understanding of the behavior of Rydberg atoms during passage from low to ionizing fields is required. The factors influencing this passage are discussed quantitatively and are illustrated by means of detailed SFI data obtained for Na34d\mathrm{Na}34dNa34d atoms.
Electric field ionization of excited Na atoms by microwave fields between 12 and 15 GHz exhibits several interesting phenomena. The ∣m∣=0and1|m|=0 \mathrm{and} 1∣m∣=0and1 states may be ionized with a very low microwave field, $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{3n}^{5}}$, corresponding to the point at which the nnn and n+1n+1n+1 Stark manifolds of principal quantum numbers nnn and n+1n+1n+1 intersect. The ionization occurs by an atom's making a succession of Landau-Zener transitions to higher-lying states, finally reaching the classical ionization limit. The ∣m∣=2|m|=2∣m∣=2 states, on the other hand, ionize at a very high microwave field, $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{9n}^{4}}$. Both these observations and the more familiar static or low-frequency result of ionization by a field of $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{16n}^{4}}$ are all consistent with ionization in a completely classical fashion. The apparent differences are due to the dynamics of passing from zero field to a high ionizing field.