Laser spectroscopic studies on collisional relaxation of Rydberg atoms

Janusz Czub, Jan Fiutak

M. Kent Ballard

R. L. Shoemaker, William H. Wing

New techniques for making time-resolved studies of atoms in highly excited (Rydberg) states will be developed. In particular, the absorption or emission of radiation by Rydberg-state atoms will be monitored on a nanosecond time scale during and after irradiation by various laser pulse sequences. The signals thus produced (known as coherent transient effects) will be studied in order to provide both information about collisional relaxation processes in Rydberg atoms and other spectroscopic data.

James Veale

Jacques Boulmer, G. Baran, Francis Devos +1 more

Jacques Boulmer, G. Baran, Francis Devos +1 more

Isotope-selective laser excitation has been used to study excitation exchange in collisions of helium Rydberg atoms with ground-state helium; this process is dominated by the interaction of the ionic core with the neutral atom and proceeds at the charge-exchange rate, the excited electron remaining a spectator.