Effect of external electric field on the resonance ionization of strontium via an autoionization level

Yoshihiro Iwata

E. B. Saloman, J. Cooper, Daniel E. Kelleher

Daniel E. Kelleher, J. F. Delpech, J. Weiner +1 more

Richard R. Freeman, Gary C. Bjorklund

We report the first observation of significant perturbations by external fields of the autoionizing resonance structure of a two-electron atoms. The effects of electric fields up to 20 kV/cm on autoionizing resonances in Sri were observed by three-photon ionization spectroscopy in an atomic beam. In addition to effects analogous to those for bound Stark states of a one-electron Rydberg atom, we observed a new effect: The characteristic shapes and widths of autoionizing resonances (Fano-Beutler profiles) can be strongly influenced by electric fields.

Robert Fields, Xinyue Zhang, F. B. Dunning +2 more

Л. Н. Иванов, Vladilen S Letokhov

A theoretical analysis is made of the method of selective ionization of atoms based on selective resonance excitation by laser radiation to quantum states near the ionization threshold and subsequent autoionization decay of the excited states under the influence of an external electric field. The autoionization of atoms in static and pulsed electric fields is considered. Calculation formulas are obtained for the probability of autoionization of a hydrogenlike atom and corrections are computed for the influence of the electron shells. Numerical estimates are obtained for the autoionization of the n = 7–12 states of the Rb atom in an electric field.