Production of Transiently Phase-Space-Localized, Quasi-One-Dimensional Rydberg Wavepackets
Abstract
The problem of producing a specific, targeted Rydberg wavepacket can be greatly simplified by first localizing the wavepacket in phase-space before manipulating it to obtain the desired, final state. We demonstrate that such localization can be obtained by first producing strongly polarized, quasi-one-dimensional (potassium) Rydberg atoms, and then delivering a 'kick' To the atom in the form of an ultrashort half-cycle pulse (HCP). The quasi-one-dimensional atoms are created by photoexciting selected Stark states in the presence of a weak dc field. Calculations show, and experimental evidence confirms, that significant photoexcitation occurs only in the vicinity of the Stark-shifted s, p and d levels, and that those states located near the Stark-shifted d level have sizable polarizations. Application of a HCP can, under appropriate conditions, produce a non-stationary wavepacket which is shown to undergo strong transient phase-space localization. Detailed calculations indicate that such localization results from a focusing effect akin to rainbow scattering, and can be characterized by coarse-grained Renyi entropy.
- Publication:
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APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DMP.D1058L