The influence of the half-cycle pulse (HCP) kick on the asymptotic velocity of the ejected electron has been studied for excited xenon atoms ${(n}^{*}=34)$ in the presence of a static electric field $(220\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}).$ We find that the HCP does not change the momentum distribution perpendicular to the kick direction. Therefore half-cycle pulse ionization and electron velocity map imaging can be used to obtain two-dimensional momentum distributions of atomic Rydberg states. Semiclassical and quantum mechanical calculations complement the experimental results.The influence of the half-cycle pulse (HCP) kick on the asymptotic velocity of the ejected electron has been studied for excited xenon atoms ${(n}^{*}=34)$ in the presence of a static electric field $(220\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}).$ We find that the HCP does not change the momentum distribution perpendicular to the kick direction. Therefore half-cycle pulse ionization and electron velocity map imaging can be used to obtain two-dimensional momentum distributions of atomic Rydberg states. Semiclassical and quantum mechanical calculations complement the experimental results.

Physical Review AOct 13, 20038 citations

Ionization Processes in a Cold Gas of Rydberg Atoms

D. Tong, S. M. Farooqi, S. Krishnan +7 more

APSMay 1, 20030 citations

Electron beam from oriented Rydberg atoms irradiated by a half-cycle pulse

Imants Bersons, Y Korovin

The angular and energy distributions of electrons emitted from Rydberg atoms prepared in the extreme Stark state and irradiated by a short half-cycle pulse are calculated in the framework of quantum-mechanical and semiclassical theories. It is supposed that the pulse direction coincides with the direction of orientation of atoms. The emitted electrons are concentrated in a small angle around the direction of orientation of the Rydberg atoms. Semiclassical theory shows that the width of the angular distribution scales as 1/qn3/2 and decreases with increase of either the principal quantum number n of the initial state or the momentum q transferred to the electron.The angular and energy distributions of electrons emitted from Rydberg atoms prepared in the extreme Stark state and irradiated by a short half-cycle pulse are calculated in the framework of quantum-mechanical and semiclassical theories. It is supposed that the pulse direction coincides with the direction of orientation of atoms. The emitted electrons are concentrated in a small angle around the direction of orientation of the Rydberg atoms. Semiclassical theory shows that the width of the angular distribution scales as 1/qn3/2 and decreases with increase of either the principal quantum number n of the initial state or the momentum q transferred to the electron.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 11, 20080 citations

The influence of the half-cycle pulse (HCP) kick on the asymptotic velocity of the ejected electron has been studied for excited xenon atoms

{(n}^{*}=34)

in the presence of a static electric field $(220\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}).$ We find that the HCP does not change the momentum distribution perpendicular to the kick direction. Therefore half-cycle pulse ionization and electron velocity map imaging can be used to obtain two-dimensional momentum distributions of atomic Rydberg states. Semiclassical and quantum mechanical calculations complement the experimental results.