Abstract
The influence of laser fluctuations on the optical excitation of Rydberg and continuum states close to a photoionization threshold is investigated within the framework of the phase diffusion model. Theoretical methods are developed for solving the relevant master equation of the atomic density operator which is averaged over the laser fluctuations. In the long-time limit this laser-induced excitation process exhibits nonexponential decay. This nonexponential time dependence reflects the fluctuation-induced diffusion of the Rydberg electron toward the ionization threshold.
- Received 10 January 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.56.820
©1997 American Physical Society