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Rydberg Atoms in Strong Static Fields

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Springer Handbook of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

Confronting classical and quantum mechanics in systems whose classical motion is chaotic is one of the fundamental problems of physics, as evidenced by the enormous outpouring of research during the last three decades [15.1,2]. Highly excited Rydberg atoms in external fields [15.3] play a prominent role in this quest because they are the best known examples of quantum systems whose classical counterpart is chaotic. For a wide variety of field configurations and field strengths, their spectra can be measured to high precision. At the same time, since their Hamiltonians are known analytically, they are equally amenable to accurate theoretical investigations using either classical or quantum mechanics.

This chapter is restricted to a description of Rydberg atoms in strong static fields. Related information on atoms in strong fields can be found in Chapt. 13 of this Handbook, on Rydberg atoms in Chapt. 14, and on the interaction of atoms with strong laser fields in Chapt. 74.

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Abbreviations

CM:

center-of-mass

NNS:

nearest-neighbor energy level spacings

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 837 State Street, 30332-0430, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Thomas Bartsch

  2. School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 837 State Street, 30332-0430, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Turgay Uzer

Authors
  1. Thomas Bartsch
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  2. Turgay Uzer
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Thomas Bartsch or Turgay Uzer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset St., N9B 3P4, Windsor, ON, Canada

    Gordon Drake Prof.

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag

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Bartsch, T., Uzer, T. (2006). Rydberg Atoms in Strong Static Fields. In: Drake, G. (eds) Springer Handbook of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-26308-3_15

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