Observation of two-photon potential scattering of Rydberg sodium atoms by a microwave field

Igor M. Beterov, I. I. Ryabtsev

Igor M. Beterov, I. I. Ryabtsev

Review of experiments on microwave spectroscopy of sodium Rydberg atoms carried out during last several years by our group, is presented. Most of the experiments have been done for the first time with Rydberg atoms. These are: static and dynamics Stark spectroscopy, two-photon dynamic Stark effect, double Stark resonance, scattering of Rydberg atomic beam by strong resonant microwave radiation. Also an experiment on pure amplification without the inversion in two-level Rydberg micromaser is discussed.

A. V. Bezverbnyĭ, Igor M. Beterov, Anatolii M Tumaikin +1 more

We examine the theory of potential scattering of Rydberg atoms in a microwave field. The model of a three-level atom is employed to calculate the radiative force emerging in the resonant coherent interaction with the microwave field for the case of a two-photon resonance and high intensities, using the method of quasienergies of the system consisting of the atom and the field. We determine the probabilities of Landau-Zener transitions in the spatial regions where under two-photon resonance conditions the quasienergies of the atoms approach one another by a small quantity. We also study the dynamics of the variation of the spatial profile of a beam of Rydberg atoms caused by resonant scattering. Finally, we give the results of the first experimental observation of the variation of the transverse beam profile when Rydberg atoms pass through a nonuniform microwave field formed in a rectangular waveguide and in resonance with the two-photon 36 P –37 P transition.

Thomas F. Gallagher

Hyo Min Kwak, Taek Jeong, Yoon‐Seok Lee +1 more

Igor M. Beterov, I. I. Ryabtsev

Results are presented from an experiment on the observation of an induced microwave transition 37 P -37 S in sodium Rydberg atoms under the action of 30 thermal photons in a microwave cavity. The measured value of the transition rate (4±1.5)×10 4 s −1 agrees with the calculated value.