Dynamical stabilization of the initial state in a periodically kicked one-dimensional Rydberg atom

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical stabilization of the initial state of a one-dimensional Rydberg atom subjected to a periodic train of half-cycle pulses. A survival probability of the initial state as a function of pulse repetition frequency is presented for different values of momentum transferred to the electron. This survival probability exhibits a broad maximum at train repetition frequencies close to the classical orbital frequency provided that the momentum is negative. There is no such behaviour for positive momentum transferred to the electron.

Dynamical stabilization of the initial state in a periodically kicked three-dimensional Rydberg atom

“…We restricted the basis to states n 80 including all possible values of the angular quantum number l or the parabolic quantum number n 1 (depending on whether the calculations were performed in spherical or parabolic basis), as the results changed less than 0.1% with the extension of the basis. Obtained results are fully representative for other n due to scaling of properties of Rydberg atoms [16,21].…”

“…In figure 3 we show the survival probability as a function of the number of kicks, K, in a periodic train of identical pulses acting on a three-dimensional Rydberg atom. The pulse repetition frequency was ν = 1.37 ν n , chosen to be in the centre of the plateau, as shown in figure 1(b) (see also equation ( 5) from [16]). The initial conditions of the atom were the same as in figure 1, so figure 3 spherical states.…”

“…In [16] we have found that for a one-dimensional Rydberg atom subjected to a periodic train of half-cycle pulses, we can observe a plateau of a dynamical stabilization of the initial state, appearing only for negative momentum transferred to the electron by HCPs. Population of the initial state for the train repetition frequencies from the range of plateau was almost constant over the whole train.…”

“…A dynamical stabilization of the initial state is the appearance of a broad maximum in the survival probability of the initial state of a periodically kicked Rydberg atom, when studied as a function of pulse repetition frequency [16]. Classically, it can be understood that at appropriate repetition frequency of the train, close to the Kepler period, the electron is periodically kicked towards the nucleus, where it is backscattered by the Coulomb field of the nucleus.…”

Verification of the validity of the short-pulse approximation for one-dimensional Rydberg atoms

“…However, even then the study of the dynamics of real three-dimensional (3D) Rydberg atoms is troublesome, and the employed formulae are inconvenient and difficult to analyse. Therefore, simplifying this problem by applying a 1D approximation of the real Rydberg atom has become popular recently [16][17][18][19][20][21]. A nearly 1D Rydberg atom can be created by a photoexcitation of extreme members of the Stark manifolds in the presence of a weak dc electric field, and its distribution exhibits similarity to a line on one side of the atom core [22,23].…”