Landau quantization and time dependence in the ionization of cold, strongly magnetized Rydberg atoms.
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.
Choi
J-H
JH
FOCUS Center, Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1040, USA.
Guest
J R
JR
Hansis
E
E
Povilus
A P
AP
Raithel
G
G