Comment on “Measurement of the lifetimes of S and D states below n=31 using cold Rydberg gas”

D. A. Tate
Phys. Rev. A 75, 066502 – Published 29 June 2007

Abstract

A recent paper by [Nascimento et al., Phys. Rev. A 74, 054501 (2006)], and a previous paper from the same group [de Oliveira et al., Phys. Rev. A 65 031401(R) (2002)], report measurements of Rydberg lifetimes in rubidium in the range 27n44. In this Comment, we point out one apparent flaw of experimental technique in these papers that may lead to systematic errors in the results. We also clarify a point of theoretical interpretation used in these papers which suggests that the agreement between experiment and theory may not be as good as it seems.

  • Received 13 December 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.75.066502

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. A. Tate*

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Colby College, Waterville, Maine 04901, USA

  • *Email address: datate@colby.edu

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Original Articles

Measurement of the lifetimes of S and D states below n=31 using cold Rydberg gas

V. A. Nascimento, L. L. Caliri, A. L. de Oliveira, V. S. Bagnato, and L. G. Marcassa
Phys. Rev. A 74, 054501 (2006)

Measurement of Rydberg-state lifetimes using cold trapped atoms

A. L. de Oliveira, M. W. Mancini, V. S. Bagnato, and L. G. Marcassa
Phys. Rev. A 65, 031401(R) (2002)

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Vol. 75, Iss. 6 — June 2007

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