Quantum states of ultracold electronically excited atoms in a magnetic quadrupole trap

Igor Lesanovsky and Peter Schmelcher
Phys. Rev. A 72, 053410 – Published 17 November 2005

Abstract

In this work we present an investigation on the quantum dynamics of ultracold electronically excited atoms exposed to an external magnetic quadrupole field. We present a general Hamiltonian which describes the quantum dynamics of an atom in an arbitrary linear magnetic field. This makes our approach applicable to a wide range of atoms and magnetic field configurations. The system is solved by incorporating an adiabatic separation of the electronic and center-of-mass dynamics. We provide the adiabatic energy surfaces and discuss under which conditions trapped center-of-mass states can be achieved. We present energies and wave functions of the corresponding quantum states. By analyzing the properties of the combined center-of-mass and electronic quantum states we demonstrate that the extension of the electronic wave function can exceed that of the center-of-mass motion. Therefore such atoms cannot be considered as being pointlike. A discussion of electromagnetic transitions is also provided.

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  • Received 28 June 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.053410

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Igor Lesanovsky1,* and Peter Schmelcher1,2,†

  • 1Physikalisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 12, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Theoretische Chemie, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Heidelberg, INF 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  • *Electronic address: ilesanov@physi.uni-heidelberg.de
  • Electronic address: Peter.Schmelcher@pci.uni-heidelberg.de

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Issue

Vol. 72, Iss. 5 — November 2005

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