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

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics

Broadening and shift of Rydberg levels by elastic collisions with rare-gas atoms

B. Kaulakys

Published Nov 28, 1984• 41 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The author obtains expressions for Rydberg level broadening and shift cross sections and rates suitable for elastic collisions of ground-state rare-gas atoms with Rydberg atoms. The semiclassical impact broadening theory is used. The interaction of a Rydberg atom with a rare-gas atom is approximated by the superposition of polarisation potentials and the Fermi pseudopotential. It is shown that similar expressions for the broadening and shift cross sections due to the perturber-Rydberg-electron interaction can be obtained in the JWKB approximation for the Rydberg-electron wavefunctions and for the square-well model potential. Consequently the shift and width of the Rydberg level are not very sensitive to the shape of the potential but only to its normalisation. Expressions for the shift and width in the square-well potential approximation suitable in the high-density limit of the perturbing atoms are obtained. Limits of the applicability of the expressions for the broadening and shift cross sections are discussed. Calculated broadening and shift rates agree well with experimental results for the broadening and shift of Rydberg levels with small, medium and large principal quantum numbers by all rare gases excepting neon.

DOI
10.1088/0022-3700/17/22/010

Related papers

Impact-broadening cross sections of Rydberg levels of alkaline-earth atoms by collision with rare gases at thermal energy

Jun-Qiang Sun, Eckart Matthias, K.-D. Heber +2 more

Using the wave functions of the multichannel-quantum-defect theory, a semiclassical theory for both elastic and inelastic collisional cross sections of Rydberg atoms, in which there can be more than one valence electron, with ground-state rare-gas atoms is obtained. Especially the noble-gas-induced broadening cross sections of Rydberg series in alkaline-earth atoms can be calculated. An application of theory is shown to explain the irregular broadening rates of Sr 5sns $^{1}$${\mathit{S}}_{0}$ series due to collision with Xe, and a good agreement between theory and experiment is achieved.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1991•10 citations

Impact broadening of Rydberg atomic levels in inelastic collisions with alkali-metal atoms

Владимир Сергеевич Лебедев, V. S. Marchenko

The theory of impact broadening of the isolated spectral lines of the Rydberg atomic series perturbed by neutral particles is developed within the framework of the impulse approximation. The analysis of the broadening process is based on the consideration of the inelastic nl to n' transitions between highly excited states of the Rydberg atom. The role of the potential and resonance scattering of the quasifree electron by a perturbing particle in the impact broadening of the Rydberg nl levels is investigated. It is shown that the general expressions for the broadening cross sections presented in this paper contain the results of asymptotic Alekseev and Sobel'man theory (1965) as special cases. Both elastic and inelastic scattering contributions of the perturber by the parent core of Rydberg atom to the broadening cross sections are also considered within the framework of the 'shake' model. The results obtained are used for a quantitative explanation of experimental data on the broadening of Rydberg atomic levels perturbed by alkali-metal atoms. The energies and widths of the 3 P resonances on the quasidiscrete levels of the negative K - and Rb - ions are determined.

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics•Nov 28, 1987•24 citations

Theoretical calculation of impact broadening rates of Rb ns Rydberg levels by noble gases

J -Q Sun, P. J. West

The impact broadening rates of Rb ns Rydberg levels by He, Ar and Xe atoms measured by Weber and Niemax (1982) and by Ne and Kr atoms observed by Thompson et al. (1987) are quantitatively explained over the whole range of the principal quantum number n. As Rb ns Rydberg levels (quantum defect delta =3.13) are very close to the nearly hydrogenic high l levels, inelastic collisions make as important a contribution to the broadening rates as elastic collisions. The authors derive the cross sections for the elastic and inelastic using a combination of Kaulakys' (1984) and Lebedev and Marchenko's (1985) impact theories. Good agreement between the theoretical and experimental broadening rates is achieved over the whole range of n.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Nov 28, 1990•7 citations

Semiclassical calculations of thel-mixing andn,l-changing collisions of Rydberg atoms with rare-gas atoms

Владимир Сергеевич Лебедев, I. I. Fabrikant

Semiclassical calculations of the quasi-elastic l-mixing and inelastic n,l-changing processes in thermal collisions of a Rydberg sodium atom with rare-gas atoms (Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) as well as and atoms with Ne are presented in a wide range of principal quantum numbers. The main emphasis is put on the study of the effects in the Rydberg-atom - rare-gas-atom collisions associated with both the short- and long-range (polarization) parts of the electron - perturber interaction. It is shown that the polarization interaction between the highly excited electron and the Ne atom provides the major contribution to the cross section of the l-mixing and n, l -changing transitions. We show that the Ramsauer - Townsend effect in slow electron scattering by the heavy rare-gas atoms significantly affects the values of the cross sections, particularly for the inelastic transitions with large energy transfer. A quantitative explanation of these phenomena is given using the recently developed semiclassical normalized perturbation theory for the Rydberg-atom - neutral collisions combined with the modified effective range theory for scattering of slow electrons by the rare-gas atoms.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Jun 14, 1997•19 citations

Inelastic and quasielastic collisions of Rydberg atoms with the heavy rare-gas atoms

Владимир Сергеевич Лебедев, I. I. Fabrikant

A theory of inelastic n,l-changing and quasielastic l-mixing collisions of Rydberg atoms with the heavy rare-gas atoms is developed. It is based on the semiclassical impact-parameter approach combined with the normalized perturbation theory. Semiclassical formulas for scaled transition probabilities and cross sections as functions of the inelasticity parameter and the collision strength are analyzed. This approach gives a general description of collisional nl\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{n}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ transitions independently of the specific values of the principal quantum number, the relative velocity, and the type of colliding atoms. The energy and angular dependence of the electron-atom scattering amplitude is included in the theory by incorporating the impulse-approximation results in the weak-coupling limit. The Ramsauer-Townsend effect affects significantly the values of the cross sections, especially for the inelastic transitions with large energy transfer. The results obtained are used in calculations of the quenching cross sections for the Rb(nS,nD,nF) atoms in collisions with Ar, Kr, and Xe. Comparison of theory and experiment is made in a wide range of the principal quantum numbers and transition energy defects. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1996•26 citations

Theoretical model for the collision of high Rydberg atoms with neutral atoms or molecules

E. de Prunelé, J. Pascale

A theoretical model for the collision of atoms in high Rydberg states (nl) with neutral atoms or molecules is proposed, based on the assumption that the electron-perturber interaction is of very short range compared with the mean radius of the Rydberg atom. A semiclassical method is used to derive a compact expression for the collision probability. The calculations need total cross sections for the scattering of a free and low-energy electron by the perturber. The model is applied to the calculation of a free and low-energy electron by the perturber. The model is applied to the calculation of cross sections for the quenching of n 2 D or n 2 F Rydberg states of Na and Rb by rare-gas atoms of N 2 . On the whole the calculated cross sections are in reasonable agreement with experimental data for n>10 approximately. The model and the results of the calculations are discussed and compared with other theoretical works.

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics•Aug 14, 1979•77 citations
The author obtains expressions for Rydberg level broadening and shift cross sections and rates suitable for elastic collisions of ground-state rare-gas atoms with Rydberg atoms. The semiclassical impact broadening theory is used. The interaction of a Rydberg atom with a rare-gas atom is approximated by the superposition of polarisation potentials and the Fermi pseudopotential. It is shown that similar expressions for the broadening and shift cross sections due to the perturber-Rydberg-electron interaction can be obtained in the JWKB approximation for the Rydberg-electron wavefunctions and for the square-well model potential. Consequently the shift and width of the Rydberg level are not very sensitive to the shape of the potential but only to its normalisation. Expressions for the shift and width in the square-well potential approximation suitable in the high-density limit of the perturbing atoms are obtained. Limits of the applicability of the expressions for the broadening and shift cross sections are discussed. Calculated broadening and shift rates agree well with experimental results for the broadening and shift of Rydberg levels with small, medium and large principal quantum numbers by all rare gases excepting neon.
Using the wave functions of the multichannel-quantum-defect theory, a semiclassical theory for both elastic and inelastic collisional cross sections of Rydberg atoms, in which there can be more than one valence electron, with ground-state rare-gas atoms is obtained. Especially the noble-gas-induced broadening cross sections of Rydberg series in alkaline-earth atoms can be calculated. An application of theory is shown to explain the irregular broadening rates of Sr 5sns 1^{1}1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​ series due to collision with Xe, and a good agreement between theory and experiment is achieved.
The theory of impact broadening of the isolated spectral lines of the Rydberg atomic series perturbed by neutral particles is developed within the framework of the impulse approximation. The analysis of the broadening process is based on the consideration of the inelastic nl to n' transitions between highly excited states of the Rydberg atom. The role of the potential and resonance scattering of the quasifree electron by a perturbing particle in the impact broadening of the Rydberg nl levels is investigated. It is shown that the general expressions for the broadening cross sections presented in this paper contain the results of asymptotic Alekseev and Sobel'man theory (1965) as special cases. Both elastic and inelastic scattering contributions of the perturber by the parent core of Rydberg atom to the broadening cross sections are also considered within the framework of the 'shake' model. The results obtained are used for a quantitative explanation of experimental data on the broadening of Rydberg atomic levels perturbed by alkali-metal atoms. The energies and widths of the 3 P resonances on the quasidiscrete levels of the negative K - and Rb - ions are determined.
The impact broadening rates of Rb ns Rydberg levels by He, Ar and Xe atoms measured by Weber and Niemax (1982) and by Ne and Kr atoms observed by Thompson et al. (1987) are quantitatively explained over the whole range of the principal quantum number n. As Rb ns Rydberg levels (quantum defect delta =3.13) are very close to the nearly hydrogenic high l levels, inelastic collisions make as important a contribution to the broadening rates as elastic collisions. The authors derive the cross sections for the elastic and inelastic using a combination of Kaulakys' (1984) and Lebedev and Marchenko's (1985) impact theories. Good agreement between the theoretical and experimental broadening rates is achieved over the whole range of n.
Semiclassical calculations of the quasi-elastic l-mixing and inelastic n,l-changing processes in thermal collisions of a Rydberg sodium atom with rare-gas atoms (Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) as well as and atoms with Ne are presented in a wide range of principal quantum numbers. The main emphasis is put on the study of the effects in the Rydberg-atom - rare-gas-atom collisions associated with both the short- and long-range (polarization) parts of the electron - perturber interaction. It is shown that the polarization interaction between the highly excited electron and the Ne atom provides the major contribution to the cross section of the l-mixing and n, l -changing transitions. We show that the Ramsauer - Townsend effect in slow electron scattering by the heavy rare-gas atoms significantly affects the values of the cross sections, particularly for the inelastic transitions with large energy transfer. A quantitative explanation of these phenomena is given using the recently developed semiclassical normalized perturbation theory for the Rydberg-atom - neutral collisions combined with the modified effective range theory for scattering of slow electrons by the rare-gas atoms.
A theory of inelastic n,l-changing and quasielastic l-mixing collisions of Rydberg atoms with the heavy rare-gas atoms is developed. It is based on the semiclassical impact-parameter approach combined with the normalized perturbation theory. Semiclassical formulas for scaled transition probabilities and cross sections as functions of the inelasticity parameter and the collision strength are analyzed. This approach gives a general description of collisional nl\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{n}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ transitions independently of the specific values of the principal quantum number, the relative velocity, and the type of colliding atoms. The energy and angular dependence of the electron-atom scattering amplitude is included in the theory by incorporating the impulse-approximation results in the weak-coupling limit. The Ramsauer-Townsend effect affects significantly the values of the cross sections, especially for the inelastic transitions with large energy transfer. The results obtained are used in calculations of the quenching cross sections for the Rb(nS,nD,nF) atoms in collisions with Ar, Kr, and Xe. Comparison of theory and experiment is made in a wide range of the principal quantum numbers and transition energy defects. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
A theoretical model for the collision of atoms in high Rydberg states (nl) with neutral atoms or molecules is proposed, based on the assumption that the electron-perturber interaction is of very short range compared with the mean radius of the Rydberg atom. A semiclassical method is used to derive a compact expression for the collision probability. The calculations need total cross sections for the scattering of a free and low-energy electron by the perturber. The model is applied to the calculation of a free and low-energy electron by the perturber. The model is applied to the calculation of cross sections for the quenching of n 2 D or n 2 F Rydberg states of Na and Rb by rare-gas atoms of N 2 . On the whole the calculated cross sections are in reasonable agreement with experimental data for n>10 approximately. The model and the results of the calculations are discussed and compared with other theoretical works.