Complete View of Stark Wave-packet Evolution

M. B. Campbell, 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.59.R4117. Copyright © 1999 The American Physical Society.

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

Abstract

Picosecond laser pulses have been used to produce Rydberg wave packets in calcium atoms in the presence of a strong static electric field. The dynamics of the Stark wave packets have been observed by measuring the momentum-space probability distribution as a function of time. The full precession of the electronic orbital angular momentum, the appearance of a large-amplitude, linear oscillation of the electronic dipole moment, and a pronounced, periodic up-down asymmetry in the momentum distribution are all observed directly.