title: Determination of the phase difference between even and odd continuum wave functions in atoms through quantum interference measurements.
abstract: We establish a technique for the determination of the phase difference between even and odd parity continuum wave functions in atoms. This determination is based upon our detailed measurements of a quantum mechanical interference between two photoionization processes using a two-color laser field. We present our measurement of the phase difference between the continuum p and d waves in atomic rubidium, which is in good agreement with the expected value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Elliott