Electron Capture from Aligned D-State Rydberg Atoms

We report a study of charge transfer from laser-aligned Rydberg atoms in collisions with ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ ions in the velocity-matching regime. The Rydberg atoms in well-defined magnetic substates were prepared by two-photon laser optical pumping in a weak magnetic field. The results are compared with classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations and can also be understood in terms of a simple and ``intuitive'' picture.We report a study of charge transfer from laser-aligned Rydberg atoms in collisions with ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ ions in the velocity-matching regime. The Rydberg atoms in well-defined magnetic substates were prepared by two-photon laser optical pumping in a weak magnetic field. The results are compared with classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations and can also be understood in terms of a simple and ``intuitive'' picture.

Physical Review AMar 1, 199329 citations

Final quantumnfstate analysis for multiply charged ion-circular Rydberg target collisions

Kevin R. Cornelius, R. E. Olson

The classical trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to simulate fully stripped ion-circular Rydberg atom collisions. We report that the mechanisms that govern the capture process for ions colliding with aligned Rydberg targets, namely direct and indirect velocity matching, alternate as to which is dominant. Previous experimental and theoretical results for singly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions demonstrate that direct capture processes dominate at intermediate collision speeds. We have found that for highly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions electron capture via indirect velocity matching is dominant at intermediate collision speeds and contributes up to 90% of the total capture cross-section.The classical trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to simulate fully stripped ion-circular Rydberg atom collisions. We report that the mechanisms that govern the capture process for ions colliding with aligned Rydberg targets, namely direct and indirect velocity matching, alternate as to which is dominant. Previous experimental and theoretical results for singly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions demonstrate that direct capture processes dominate at intermediate collision speeds. We have found that for highly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions electron capture via indirect velocity matching is dominant at intermediate collision speeds and contributes up to 90% of the total capture cross-section.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 11, 20000 citations

Angle and velocity variation of electron capture from a Stark state

Keith B. MacAdam, Dean M. Homan, Oleg P. Makarov +1 more

Total electron capture by K+ or Cs+ from a Na Rydberg n=24 extremal Stark state, aligned with a weak external electric field, has been measured as a function of the angle between the atoms’ electric dipole moment and the projectile beam in the reduced-velocity range ṽ=0.15 to 1.05. A novel “Stark barrel” is described that produces the arbitrarily directed uniform electric field, smoothly switchable in both magnitude and direction in under 2 μs. The results illustrate the importance of spatial effects as opposed to velocity matching for a full understanding of electron capture near ṽ=1.Total electron capture by K+ or Cs+ from a Na Rydberg n=24 extremal Stark state, aligned with a weak external electric field, has been measured as a function of the angle between the atoms’ electric dipole moment and the projectile beam in the reduced-velocity range ṽ=0.15 to 1.05. A novel “Stark barrel” is described that produces the arbitrarily directed uniform electric field, smoothly switchable in both magnitude and direction in under 2 μs. The results illustrate the importance of spatial effects as opposed to velocity matching for a full understanding of electron capture near ṽ=1.

AIP conference proceedingsJan 1, 19970 citations

We report a study of charge transfer from laser-aligned Rydberg atoms in collisions with

{\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}

ions in the velocity-matching regime. The Rydberg atoms in well-defined magnetic substates were prepared by two-photon laser optical pumping in a weak magnetic field. The results are compared with classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations and can also be understood in terms of a simple and ``intuitive'' picture.