Diffusion ionization of Rydberg atoms due to black-body radiation
B. P. Kaulakis
It was only recently established that the ubiquitous black-body radiation plays an important role in the spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms even at room temperature. 1.2 Black-body radiation causes shifts in the energy of atomic levels,2 induces transitions between atomic states,2 causes photoionization of Rydberg atoms,3 and affects the population of highly excited states in the recombination of ions.4•5 We will show that black-body radiation also causes diffusive ionization of Rydberg atoms and ions. Under certain conditions, the principal condition among which is the collision-induced mixing of levels in I, the diffusion process resulting from black-body radiation is the basic mechanism for the ionization of Rydberg atoms.
JETPL•Mar 1, 1988•1 citation