Photoionization broadening of the 1S2S transition in a beam of atomic hydrogen

N. Kolachevsky, M. Haas, U. D. Jentschura, M. Herrmann, P. Fendel, M. Fischer, R. Holzwarth, Th. Udem, C. H. Keitel, and T. W. Hänsch
Phys. Rev. A 74, 052504 – Published 15 November 2006

Abstract

We consider the excitation dynamics of the two-photon 1S-2S transition in a beam of atomic hydrogen by 243nm laser radiation. Specifically, we study the impact of ionization damping on the transition line shape, caused by the possibility of ionization of the 2S level by the same laser field. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we calculate the line shape of the 1S-2S transition for the experimental geometry used in the two latest absolute frequency measurements [M. Niering et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5496 (2000) and M. Fischer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 230802 (2004)]. The calculated line shift and linewidth are in excellent agreement with the experimentally observed values. From this comparison we can verify the values of the dynamic Stark shift coefficient for the 1S-2S transition for the first time on a level of 15%. We show that the ionization modifies the velocity distribution of the metastable atoms, the line shape of the 1S-2S transition, and has an influence on the derivation of its absolute frequency.

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  • Received 19 June 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.052504

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

N. Kolachevsky1,2, M. Haas3, U. D. Jentschura3, M. Herrmann1, P. Fendel1, M. Fischer4, R. Holzwarth1,4, Th. Udem1, C. H. Keitel3, and T. W. Hänsch1,5

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
  • 2P.N. Lebedev Physics Institute, Leninsky prosp. 53, 119991 Moscow, Russia
  • 3Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 4MenloSystems GmbH, Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
  • 5Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

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Vol. 74, Iss. 5 — November 2006

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