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Rydberg Atoms

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Springer Handbook of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

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

Abstract

Rydberg atoms are those in which the valence electron is in a state of high principal quantum number n. They are of historical interest since the observation of Rydberg series helped in the initial unraveling of atomic spectroscopy [14.1]. Since the 1970s, these atoms have been studied mostly for two reasons. First, Rydberg states are at the border between bound states and the continuum, and any process which can result in either excited bound states or ions and free electrons usually leads to the production of Rydberg states. Second, the exaggerated properties of Rydberg atoms allow experiments to be done which would be difficult or impossible with normal atoms.

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Abbreviations

WKB:

Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Virginia, 382 McCormick Road, 22904-4714, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Thomas Gallagher

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  1. Thomas Gallagher
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Correspondence to Thomas Gallagher .

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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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Gallagher, T. (2006). Rydberg Atoms. 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_14

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