Abstract
Microwave ionization of Rydberg atoms is well described as the onset of classical chaos when the microwave frequency is less than the Kepler frequency . However, when , i.e., at high scaled frequency , classical ionization is predicted to be suppressed by quantum interference, an analogue to Anderson localization in a solid. Using 17.55 GHz microwave fields we have observed the ionization of Sr Rydberg atoms in the regime . Our measurements demonstrate the quantum suppression of classical diffusive ionization and show the ionization field to be independent in this regime.
- Received 30 January 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.193002
©2004 American Physical Society