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Using A Genetic Algorithm To Optimize An Electric Field Ionization Pulse, Tamas Budner

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

Experimentally, we would like to demonstrate the process of selective field ionization of electrons as evidence of quantum control in a system of ultracold rubidium-85 Rydberg atoms. In order to accomplish this, an electric field pulse which is optimized to take an initial Rydberg electron state and produce the desired ionization spectra is necessary. We utilize techniques from artificial intelligence to develop a genetic algorithm for the optimization process. Our algorithm is computationally tested on an artificially constructed quantum system consisting of four energy states. In evaluating the viability of any given field pulse, we calculate the probability of an …