Modeling of laser-induced excitation and ionization in cesium atoms

A theoretical model is presented to describe kinetics of the plasma formation in cesium undergone to resonant laser excitation (D_1,2 line). The model is based on a rate equations approach where the following populations are considered: ground state (6s level), laser excited level (6p), a series of high excited levels close to the ionization limit, and the electron density. We show temporal evolution of these populations and provide an explanation of the kinetic governing the ionization path-ways. Moreover, we compare the behavior of the electron density as a function of the laser power with the experimental data by Hunnenkens et al. This comparison for the electron density with irradiation time is proved a good agreement with the experimental results.     

Tunneling and above-barrier ionization of atoms in a laser radiation field

Calculations are made of the energy and angular distributions of photoelectrons during tunneling ionization of an atom or an ion under the action of high-power laser radiation (for all values of the Keldysh parameter γ). Cases of linear, circular, and elliptic polarizations of the electromagnetic wave are considered. The probability of above-barrier ionization of hydrogen atoms in a low-frequency laser field is calculated. Formulas are given for the momentum spectrum of the electrons when an atomic level is ionized by a general type of alternating electric field (for the case of linear polarization). An analysis is made of tunneling interference in the energy spectrum of the photoelectrons. Analytic approximations are discussed for the asymptotic coefficient C _κ of the atomic wave function at infinity (for s-wave electrons).     

Effect of polarization spectroscopy in multitep excitation and ionization of atoms on ionization efficiency

In this peper, the seventeen real motion equation of atoms were shown for the first time inconsiderlng the polarization choices of laser lights. The importance of polarization spectrcoscopy in thedetermination of ionization yields of multi-step excitation and ionization of atoms (MSEIA) wasshown.     

A quantum-mechanical model for the ionization and excitation of atoms during sputtering

A quantum-mechanical model is developed for the process by which an atom is excited or ionized as it is sputtered from a metal surface. The probability of excitation is given by R = (A/ΔE)²(hv/aΔE)ⁿ, where A is the binding energy of a surface atom before sputtering, v is its average velocity after sputtering, a is the thickness of the surface, and Δ E the excitation energy. For ionization, ΔE = I?φ, with I the ionization energy of the sputtered atom, and φ the work function of tke surface. Available experimental data for ionization are fitted best with a = (1.4 ± 0.3)A?, and n = 2.5 ± 0.3. The model is expected to be applicable to bombarding energies up to about 100 keV.     

Dipole-dipole excitation and ionization in an ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms

In cold dense Rydberg atom samples, the dipole-dipole interaction strength is effectively resonant at the typical interatomic spacing in the sample, and the interaction has a 1/R3 dependence on interatomic spacing R. The dipole-dipole attraction leads to ionizing collisions of initially stationary atoms, which produces hot atoms and ions and initiates the evolution of initially cold samples of neutral Rydberg atoms into plasmas. More generally, the strong dipole-dipole forces lead to motion, which must be considered in proposed applications.     

The spectroscopic study of excitation and ionization in the collision of two metastable atoms

Collisions between two excited atoms leading to an increase in the excitation energy of the particles have been under investigation. All measurements were made in the afterglow of gas-discharge plasma. The cross sections of the following reactions have been determined: $\text{Hg}\text{(6}{}^3\text{P}{}_{012}\text{) +}\text{Hg}\text{(6}{}^3\text{P}{}_{012}\text{) →}\text{Hg}{}^7\text{+}\text{Hg}\text{(6}{}^1\text{S}{}_0\text{),}\text{He}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{(2}{}^{\mathrm{1,3}}\text{S}\text{) +}\text{Xe}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{(}{}^3\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{0,2}}\text{) → (}\text{Xe}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}{}^1\text{+}\text{He}{}_0\text{+}\text{e}$. The cross section of the first reaction for different transitions lies in the region (2?35) × 10^?15 cm² and the cross section of the second, in (0.2?2.4) × 10^?16 cm². Possible systematic errors and the role of cascade transitions are discussed. Cross sections of the Penning reaction He_m + Xe₀ → He₀ + Xe⁺ + e have also been measured. The result is σ (2³S) = (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10^?15 cm², σ (2¹S) = (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10^?15 cm².     

Fluorescence emission of excited hydrogen atoms after core excitation of water vapor

The Balmer emission from atomic hydrogen has been recorded across the resonances at the oxygen K edge of the water molecule using synchrotron radiation excitation. The emission is observed to be strongest at excitations to Rydberg resonances. The observations are interpreted using a qualitative model for the dynamics of the core-to-Rydberg excited molecule. The model links the quantum state of the core-excited water molecule via resonant Auger decay and subsequent dissociation to the state of the fluorescing hydrogen atom.     

Fully relativistic convergent close-coupling method for excitation and ionization processes in electron collisions with atoms and ions

We report the development of the fully relativistic convergent close-coupling method based on the solution of the Dirac equation. A complete square-integrable Dirac L-spinor basis is used to obtain a set of target states spanning the target discrete and continuous positive- and negative-energy spectra. The present implementation is for quasi-one-electron atoms whose electronic configuration corresponds to the first column of the periodic table. By way of example, we consider elastic scattering of 7 eV electrons on the ground state of cesium, where the full set of spin asymmetries (A1, A2, Ann) has been measured. Excellent agreement with experiment is found.     

Tunneling ionization of Rydberg molecules

The theory of tunneling ionization of atoms is generalized to ionization of symmetric top molecules, either polar or nonpolar. Low-lying excited states of molecules, for which the ordinary Born-Oppenheimer approximation holds, and high-lying excited states, for which the inverse Born-Oppenheimer approximation holds, are discussed. Ionization in a constant external field is analyzed, as is ionization in an alternating field. It is shown that the orientation of the molecule’s axis along the field does not lead to any appreciable increase in the ionization probability as compared to other orientations. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 115–127 (July 1997)     

Nuclear reactions with core excitation

The transition amplitudes for nucleon scattering, stripping, pick-up, and break-up reactions are derived in the framework of a three-body model. The model consists of two nucleons and a core. The core is assumed to have a discret excitation spectrum. The nucleon-core interactions give rise to the excitation and subsequent deexcitation of the core. The energy averaged transition amplitudes are obtained by iteration from Faddeevtype integral equations. The lowest order terms correspond to the DWBA and the higher order terms describe the multistep processes.     

Phase-dependent excitation and ionization in the multiphoton ionization regime

We theoretically study the dependence of atomic excitation and ionization on the carrier envelope phase of few-cycle laser pulses in the multiphoton ionization regime. Our theoretical results for the hydrogen atom based on the solution of the 3D time-dependent Schr?dinger equation show that the strong phase dependence can be seen in not only total ionization, but also bound-state population under the weak laser intensity regime.     

Pulsed differential excitation of atoms

It is shown that differential excitation of similar atoms can be achieved by means of a spaced double π/2-pulse sequence in a shorter time than with a single π-pulse, with smaller relaxation degradation.     

Inner-shell excitation of alkali-metal atoms

Inner-shell excitation of alkali-metal atoms, which leads to auto-ionization, is investigated. Comparison is made with other available data. Basic difficulties in making accurate calculations for inner-shell excitation process are discussed. Suggestions are made for further study of inner-shell process in atoms and ions.     

Collisional excitation of Na-Rydberg atoms

The scattering of heavy ion with a multilevel Rydberg atom in the presence of an electromagnetic field is studied. The interaction of Rydberg atom and the e.m field is explored using non-perturbative quasi-energy technique. Although the results are presented for selected excitations but in actual calculations we have included many levels of the atom. The effect of various parameters are shown on collisional excitation process. As an illustration detailed calculations are performed for the inelastic proton-Na Rydberg atom collision accompanied by the transfer of photons and the effects of dressing due to the field are considered. The emphasis of the present work is on collision induced transitions especially the case that involves change of orbital as well as principal quantum number. Received 26 December 2001 / Received in final form 8 April 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

Multichannel excitation cross sections of sodium atoms at slow collisions with hydrogen atoms

Excitation cross sections at slow collisions of hydrogen and sodium atoms are calculated based on two sets of quantum-chemical data. The results of calculations permit one to conclude that, upon the excitation of the sodium atom from the ground state in the region of near-threshold energies, the cross sections are highly sensitive to matrix nonadiabaticity elements. In addition, the matrix nonadiabaticity element was varied for the transition 3s → 3p of the sodium atom at fixed collision energy near the reaction threshold. It was found that the variation leads to a significant change in the excitation cross section 3s → 3p, and the range of the energetic dependence of this cross section was determined.     

Transfer and ionization in collisions of positrons with atoms

Kinematic singularities in certain few-body reactions may provide special features that are both conceptually simple and observable. Particle transfer is such a reaction. At high velocities, it is characterized by singularities that are manifested by peaks and ridges in differential cross sections. For electrons captured by protons, some of these singular features have been observed. For capture by positrons, i.e. positronium formation, new features are predicted.