Liu Hong-Ping

Exact quantum defect theory approach for lithium in magnetic fields

We calculate the diamagnetic spectrum of lithium at highly excited states up to the positive energy range using the exact quantum defect theory approach. The concerned excitation is one-photon transition from the ground state 2s to the highly excited states np with pi and sigma polarizations respectively. Lithium has a small quantum defect value 0 : 05 for the np states, and its diamagnetic spectrum is very similar to that of hydrogen in the energy range approaching the ionization limit. However, a careful calculation shows that the spectrum has a significant discrepancy with that of hydrogen when the energy is lower than -70 cm(-1). The effect of the quantum defect is also discussed for the Stark spectrum. It is found that the sigma transition to the np states in an electric field has a similar behavior to that of hydrogen due to zero interaction with channel ns.

Spectral decomposition at a complex laser polarization configuration

We study the role of laser polarization in the diamagnetic spectrum for the transition from the ground state to the highly excited Rydberg states through a single photon absorption. For simplicity, one usually polarizes the irradiation laser to the selected main quantum axis, which is along the applied external electric or magnetic field. The transition selection rule is simply expressed as Delta m = 0, which corresponds to the pi transition. When the polarization is circularly polarized around the main axis, the s + or s transition occurs, corresponding to the selection rule of Delta m = 1 or Delta m = -1, respectively. A slightly more complex case is that the laser is linearly polarized perpendicular to the main axis. The numerical calculation shows that we can decompose the transition into the sum of sigma(+) and sigma(-) transitions, it is noted as the sigma transition. For the more complex case in which the laser is linearly polarized with an arbitrary angle with respect to the main axis, we have to decompose the polarization into one along the main axis and the other one perpendicular to the main axis. They correspond to p and s transitions, respectively. We demonstrate that these transitions in the diamagnetic spectrum and the above spectral decomposition well explain the experimentally observed spectra.

Stark spectrum of barium in highly excited Rydberg states

We present observations of Stark spectra of barium in highly excited Rydberg states in the energy region around n = 35. The one-photon excitation concerns the pi transition. The observed Stark spectra at electric fields ranging from 0 to 60 V.cm(-1) are well explained by the diagonalization of the Hamiltonian incorporating the core effects. From the Stark maps, the anti-crossings between energy levels are identified experimentally and theoretically. The time of flight spectra at the specified Stark states are recorded, where the deceleration and acceleration of barium atoms are observed. This is very consistent with the prediction derived from the Stark maps from the point of view of energy conservation.

An effective quantum defect theory for the diamagnetic spectrum of a barium Rydberg atom

A theoretical calculation is carried out to investigate the spectrum of a barium Rydberg atom in an external magnetic field. Using an effective approach incorporating quantum defect into the centrifugal term in the Hamiltonian, we reexamine the reported spectrum of the barium Rydberg atom in a magnetic field of 2.89 T [J. Phys. B 28 L537 (1995)]. Our calculation employs B-spline basis expansion and complex coordinate rotation techniques. For single photon absorption from the ground 6s2 to 6snp Rydberg states, the spectrum is not influenced by quantum defects of channels ns and nd. The calculation is in agreement with the experimental observations until the energy reaches E = −60 cm−1. Beyond this energy, closer to the threshold, the calculated and experimental results do not agree with each other. Possible reasons for their discrepancies are discussed. Our study affirms an energy range where the diamagnetic spectrum of the barium atom can be explained thoroughly using a hydrogen model potential.

Intensity and Polarization Effects in Short-Pulse Multiphoton Ionization of Xenon *

We present photoelectron spectra (PES) of xenon subject to ultrashort intense laser pulses at 400 nm. The intensity-dependent PES exhibit the dominance of ac-Stark-shifted multiphoton resonances in a multiphoton ionization process. A distinct difference in the spectra with different laser polarization states (i.e., linearly and circularly polarized states) is revealed and can be understood in terms of the quantum selection rule, which restricts the angular momentum of states that may shift into multiphoton resonances. Furthermore, the intensity dependence of the resonance-enhanced electron yield is analyzed in the context of multiphoton Landau-Zener theory. The model calculation results considering the focal volume effect are in good agreement with the experimental observation.

Lifetime Measurement for 6snp Rydberg States of Barium

We present a simple and efficient method for measuring the atomic lifetimes in order of tens of microseconds and demonstrate it in the lifetime determination of barium Rydberg states. This method extracts the lifetime information from the time-of-flight spectrum directly, which is much more efficient than other methods such as the time-delayed field ionization and the traditional laser induced fluorescence. The lifetimes determined with our method for barium Rydberg 6snp (n = 37-59) series are well coincident with the values deduced from the absolute oscillator strengths of barium which were given in the literature [J. Phys. B 14 ( 1981) 4489, 29 (1996) 655] on experiments.

Photodetachment of H(-) near an elastic surface in a magnetic field

This paper investigates the photodetachment of the negative hydrogen ion H- near an elastic wall in a magnetic field. The magnetic field confines the perpendicular motion of the electron, which results in a real three-dimensional well for the detached electron. The analytical formulas for the cross section of the photodetachment in the three-dimensional quantum well are derived based on both the quantum approach and closed-orbit theory. The magnetic field and the elastic surface lead to two completely different modulations to the cross section of the photodetachment. The oscillation amplitude depends on the strength of the magnetic field, the ion-wall distance and the photon polarization as well. Specially, for the circularly polarized photon-induced photodetachment, the cross sections display a suppressed (E - E-th)(1/2) threshold law with energy E in the vicinity above Landau energy E-th, contrasting with the (E - Eth)(-1/2) threshold law in the presence of only the magnetic field. The semiclassical calculation fits the quantum result quite well, although there are still small deviations. The difference is attributed to the failure of semiclassical mechanics.

Multiphoton Ionization from Multiple Orbitals of N-2 in Strong Laser Fields

We investigate multiphoton ionization (MPI) of N2 exposed to femtosecond laser fields at 400 nm and 800 nm experimentally. Photoelectron energy spectra are measured with a high resolution photoelectron spectrometer at laser intensities up to 1014 W/cm2. Prominent resonant peaks observed at 400 nm can be attributed to the resonance with molecular Rydberg states corresponding to different molecular orbitals, revealing the importance of the multiple orbitals contribution in strong field molecular dynamics.

Scaled-energy spectroscopy of a ｜M｜= 1 Rydberg barium atom in an electric field

We observe strong energy-dependent quantum defects in the scaled-energy Stark spectra for |M| = 1 Rydberg states of barium atoms at three scaled energies: e = –2.000, e = –2.500 and e = –3.000. In an attempt to explain the observations, theoretical calculations of closed orbit theory based on a model potential including core effect are performed for non-hydrogenic atoms. While such a potential has been uniformly successful for alkali atoms with a single valence electron, it fails to match experimental results for barium atoms in the 6snp Rydberg states with two valence electrons. Our study points out that this discrepancy is due to the strong perturbation from the 5d8p state, which voids the simple approximation for constant quantum defects of principle quantum number n.

Tunneling between double wells of atom in crossed electromagnetic fields

The tunneling between double wells of atom in crossed electromagnetic fields is investigated by a one-dimensional Hamiltonian model. The crossed fields induced outer well is apart from the nuclear origin and it is very difficult to access by means of spectroscopy but it will be possible if there exists the tunneling of the electron between the outer well and the Coulomb potential predominated well at the nuclear origin. A one-dimensional quantum calculation with B-spline basis has been performed for hydrogen atom in crossed fields accessible in our laboratory, at B = 0.8 T and F = -220 V.cm(-1). The calculation shows that the wavefunctions of some excited states close to the Stark saddle point in the outer well extend over to the Coulomb potential well, making it possible to penetrate the quantum information of the outer well. However, the tunneling rate is very small and the spectral measurement of the transitions from the ground state should be of a high resolution and high sensitivity.