Observation of Rydberg wave packet dynamics in a Coulombic and magnetic field

J. Wals; H. H. Fielding; J. F. Christian; L. C. Snoek; W. J. van der Zande; H. B. van Linden van den Heuvell

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.3783

Observation of Rydberg wave packet dynamics in a Coulombic and magnetic field

J. Wals, H. H. Fielding, J. F. Christian, L. C. Snoek, W. J. van der Zande, and H. B. van Linden van den Heuvell

Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 3783 – Published 13 June 1994

Abstract

Rydberg electron wave packets are investigated, using phase-modulated detection. In the absence of any external field we observe pure radial motion of a bound electron wave packet showing both the first integer revival and all fractional revivals up to the seventh order; in the presence of a magnetic field (0.81 T) both paramagnetic and diamagnetic effects are observed. Paramagnetism is visible in the time-correlation function of the wave packet as a sinusoidal intensity modulation, with a period of 43 ps, superimposed on the radial motion; the diamagnetism is observed as a decrease in the radial recurrence times (by up to 35%).

Received 17 January 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.3783

Authors & Affiliations

J. Wals, H. H. Fielding, J. F. Christian, L. C. Snoek, W. J. van der Zande, and H. B. van Linden van den Heuvell

van der Waals-Zeeman Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, Valckenierstraat 65, 1018 XE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
FOM-Institute for Atomic Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands