title: Microwave ionization of an atomic electron wave packet.
abstract: A short microwave pulse is used to ionize a lithium Rydberg wave packet launched from the core at a well-defined phase of the field. We observe a strong dependence on the relative phase between the motion of the wave packet and the oscillations of the field. This phase dependent ionization is also studied as a function of the relative frequency. Our experimental observations are in good qualitative agreement with a one-dimensional classical model of wave packet ionization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901, USA.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Gallagher