title: Landau quantization and time dependence in the ionization of cold, strongly magnetized Rydberg atoms.
abstract: The electric-field-ionization and autoionization behavior of cold Rydberg atoms of 85Rb in magnetic fields up to 6 T is investigated. Multiple ionization potentials and field-ionization bands reflecting the Landau energy quantization of the quasifree Rydberg electron are observed. The time-resolved and state-selective field-ionization study provides evidence of mixing and spin flips of the Rydberg electron. Spin-orbit coupling combined with mixing gives rise to a Feshbach-type autoionization of metastable positive-energy atoms.
authors.affiliation: FOCUS Center, Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1040, USA.
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hansis
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Povilus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raithel