Rydberg atom spectroscopy

In this chapter we concentrate on one particular aspect of Rydberg atom spectroscopy the measurement, analysis, and interpretation of hyperfine structures of Rydberg states of two-electron systems. Although hyperfine interactions have traditionally been used to probe the electronic structure of atomic ground states and low-lying excited levels, isotope... 

Rydberg atoms, atoms in states of high principal quantum number, n, are atoms with exaggerated properties. While they have only been studied intensely since the nineteen seventies, they have played a role in atomic physics since the beginning of quantitative atomic spectroscopy. Their role in the early days of atomic spectroscopy is described by White.1... 

A way of doing microwave spectroscopy peculiar to the study of Rydberg atoms is to use selective field ionization to discriminate between the initial and final states of the microwave transition. An example of the application of this technique is the measurement of millimeter wave intervals between Na Rydberg states by Fabre et a/.13 using the arrangement shown in Fig. 16.5. 

For many reasons atomic spectroscopy continues to be one of the most rapidly developing branches of physics. This is primarily due to the creation of very stable and monochromatic lasers, allowing one to selectively excite various atomic states, to create very highly excited (Rydberg) atoms, and due to the occurrence of new possibilities, given by non-atmospheric astrophysics, which allow one to register the electromagnetic radiation... 

R. Schinke Photodissociation Dynamics 2. L. Frommhold Collision-Induced Absorption in Gases 3. T. F. Gallacher Rydberg Atoms 4. M. Auzinsh and R. Ferber Optical Polarization of Molecules 5.1. E. McCarthy and E. Weigold Electron-Atom Collisions 6. V. Schmidt Electron Spectrometry of Atoms using Synchrotron Radiation 7. Z. Rudzikas Theoretical Atomic Spectroscopy... 

Atomic spectroscopy. 2. Rydberg states. 3. Auger effect. 

Bohr, Niels (1954). Rydberg s Discovery of the Spectral Laws. Proceedings of the Rydberg Centennial Conference on Atomic Spectroscopy, Acta Universitatis lundensis 50 15-21. 

Rydberg Atoms High-Resolution Spectroscopy and Radiation Interaction—Rydberg Molecules, J. A. C. Gallas, G. Leuchs,... 

On the other hand, the rapid advancement of laser spectroscopy has made it possible to produce atoms in highly exited states. It has been realized, that these Rydberg atoms in uniform external fields are gateway systems for studying various aspects of chaos in... 

In this section I hope to show how the sensitivity of laser spectroscopy is exploited to obtain data on very low concentrations of atoms. In particular I will start off by considering a few laser atomic beam studies aimed at measuring optical isotope shifts and show how short-lived nuclei can be studied in this way. I shall also mention how it is possible to beat the natural linewidth and obtain supernatural spectra . The discussion of laser studies at low atomic concentrations then leads me onto consider experiments on laser cooling and trapping of atoms and ions. In this context I will also mention some experiments using the shelved electron idea to detect very weak transitions. Finally, I will say something about Rydberg atoms and the effects of atoms near metallic surfaces. 

C. Fahre, S. Haroche, Spectroscopy of one- and two-electron Rydberg atoms, in Rydberg States of Atoms and Molecules, ed. by R.F. Stebbings, F.B. Dunnings (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1983)... 

J.C. Gallas, G. Leuchs, H. Walther, H. Figger, Rydberg atoms high resolution spectroscopy, mAdv. At. Mol. Phys., vol. 20 (Academic Press, New York, 1985), p. 414... 

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