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The ZEKE-effect in cold Rydberg gases

S. K. Dutta·D. Feldbaum·G. Raithel
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Abstract

Cold, dense Rydberg gases produced in a cold-atom trap are investigated using spectroscopic methods and time-resolved electron counting. On the discrete Rydberg resonances we observe large trap losses and long lasting electron emission from the Rydberg gas (>30ms). Our observations are explained by quasi-elastic l-mixing collisions between Rydberg atoms and slow electrons that lead to the population of long-lived high-angular-momentum Rydberg states. These atoms thermally ionize slowly and with large probabilities, leading to the observed effects.

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S. K. Dutta, D. Feldbaum, G. Raithel. 2000-07-02. The ZEKE-effect in cold Rydberg gases. https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0003109

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