Effects of Imperfect Unipolarity on the Ionization of Rydberg Atoms by Subpicosecond Half-Cycle Pulses

N. E. Tielking, University of Virginia - Main Campus
Thomas J. Bensky, University of Virginia - Main Campus
Robert R. Jones, University of Virginia - Main Campus

Article comments

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.51.3370. Copyright © 1995 The American Physical Society.

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Thomas Bensky was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.

Abstract

Rydberg atoms are ionized by nearly unipolar, subpicosecond electromagnetic pulses. Deviations from a perfectly unidirectional pulse are found to alter substantially the ionization probability as a function of peak field. Quantitative agreement between classical theory and experiment is achieved if the pulse imperfections are significantly attenuated.