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Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Theses/Dissertations

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

2000

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

The Absorption Spectrum Of The Hydrogen Atom In Crossed Electric And Magnetic Fields, Dongmei Wang Jan 2000

The Absorption Spectrum Of The Hydrogen Atom In Crossed Electric And Magnetic Fields, Dongmei Wang

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation reports the theoretical interpretation of the measured absorption spectrum of hydrogen atoms in crossed electric and magnetic fields. Closed-orbit theory is modified from two-dimensions to three-dimensions to interpret the large scale structure in the absorption spectrum. A new computational method---a Chirped-Fourier-Transform---is developed to extract the closed orbits from an energy spectrum. A quantitative model is provided to calculate the continuum absorption. We prove that the observed continuum absorption is proportional to the flux of electrons along trajectories which escape within a short time. Einstein-Brillouin-Keller (EBK) quantization theory is applied to obtain an approximate energy spectrum. Our results prove …


Redistribution Of Rydberg States By Terahertz Radiation, Jonathan David Curley Jan 2000

Redistribution Of Rydberg States By Terahertz Radiation, Jonathan David Curley

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

We present the technique and results of our study of the redistribution of Rydberg states in barium by a half cycle pulse (HCP). A survey of previous research concerning the interaction of half cycle pulses with Rydberg atoms reveals a lack of experimental data in the area of state redistribution. This is primarily due to an inability to identify the redistributed states accurately using the currently available tool: selective field ionization (SFI). We present the limitations of SFI as a state identification tool. We then present a survey of isolated core excitation as a state identification tool, along with its …