From coherent to noise-induced microwave ionization of Rydberg atoms

Oliver Benson, Andreas Buchleitner, Georg Raithel, Markus Arndt, Rosario N. Mantegna, and Herbert Walther
Phys. Rev. A 51, 4862 – Published 1 June 1995
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

We present an experimental study of dynamical localization as displayed by rubidium Rydberg atoms ionized by a coherent microwave field. The ionization threshold field has been measured over a wide range of initial principal quantum numbers of the atomic Rydberg states, for a fixed interaction time of atom and field, and for two different values of the frequency of the microwave. Furthermore, fixing the initial state of the atoms and the microwave frequency, we studied the dependence of the ionization threshold on the interaction time. In both types of experiments, we identify a clear signature of dynamical localization and of its gradual destruction by noise. The transition from dynamical localization to diffusionlike ionization as weak broadband noise is added to the coherent microwave radiation is illustrated. In addition, we supply experimental evidence that suggests that a subset of the noise spectrum depending on the principal quantum number of the initial atomic Rydberg state is more relevant for the destruction of dynamical localization.

  • Received 4 November 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.51.4862

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Oliver Benson, Andreas Buchleitner, Georg Raithel, Markus Arndt, Rosario N. Mantegna*, and Herbert Walther

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik and Sektion Physik der Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Federal Republic of Germany

  • *Permanent address: Dipartimento di Energetica ed Applicazioni di Fisica, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, I-90128 Palermo, Italy.

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 51, Iss. 6 — June 1995

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×