title: Quantum energy flow in atomic ions moving in magnetic fields
abstract: Using a combination of semiclassical and recently developed wave packet propagation techniques we find the quantum self-ionization process of highly excited ions moving in magnetic fields which has its origin in the energy transfer from the center of mass to the electronic motion. It obeys a time scale orders of magnitude larger than the corresponding classical process. Importantly a quantum coherence phenomenon leading to the intermittent behavior of the ionization signal is found and analyzed. Universal properties of the ionization process are established.
authors.affiliation: Physique Nucleaire Theorique et Physique Mathematique, CP 229, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, B 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Melezhik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmelcher