Spectral properties of atoms in fields: A semiclassical analysis
We develop a semiclassical theory for the spectral rigidity of nonhydrogenic Rydberg atoms in electric fields, and evaluate the significant deviations from the well-known Poissonian behavior in the hydrogenic case. The resulting formula is shown to be in excellent agreement with the exact quantal result. We also investigate diamagnetic atoms; we find that, in contrast to the classically integrable atoms, diffraction has a small effect on the spectral rigidity in the classically chaotic atom. We show that our predictions can also be of use in the mixed phase space regime.
Walker
PN
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Monteiro
TS