Atomic spectral detection of tunable extreme ultraviolet pulses

A novel method of detecting the spectral width and wavelength of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses with a minimum number of experimental tools is demonstrated. The method relies on the photoionization probability of an atom as a function of the electric field. A tunable laser source in the XUV is used that is based on higher-harmonic generation of the frequency-doubled output of a 50-fs Ti:sapphire laser. The bandwidth and the wavelength of the seventh harmonic (~57nm) are detected with Ne, and the resolving power is lambda/Dlambda=10(5).     

Coherent scattering with pulsed matter beams

We present a quantum theory for the interaction of a quantum target with a time dependent matter beam. When several pulses in the incident beam arrive with a period tau, transitions between levels with an energy difference h/tau can be enhanced. Unlike all previous studies, we find that transitions in passive targets can distinguish between an incoherent beam and a beam with a coherent wave packet structure. As an example, we calculate the transition probability of Rb Rydberg atoms interacting with a pulsed electron beam.     

Displacing Rydberg electrons: the mono-cycle nature of half-cycle pulses

A THz "half-cycle" pulse is a fast ( <1 ps) unipolar pulse, followed by a slow unipolar pulse of opposite polarity. We found that the interaction of such THz pulses with very high Rydberg states results in a displacement of the electron within the atom, while the ionization is strongly suppressed. In classical terms: the first fast unipolar feature corresponds to a start kick of the Rydberg electron, while the second unipolar feature acts as a stop kick. A semiclassical model is presented which qualitatively reproduces the ionization suppression and redistribution.     

Simultaneous position and state measurement of Rydberg atoms

We present a technique for state-selective position detection of cold Rydberg atoms. Ground state Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap are excited to a Rydberg state and are subsequently ionized with a tailored electric field pulse. This pulse selectively ionizes only atoms in e.g. the 54d state and not in the 53d state. The released electrons are detected after a slow flight towards a micro channel plate. From the time of flight of the electrons the position of the atoms is deduced. The state selectivity is about 20:1 when comparing 54d with 53d and the one-dimensional position resolution ranges from 6 to 40 μm over a range of 300 μm. This state selectivity and position resolution are sufficient to allow for the observation of coherent quantum excitation transport.