Modifying excitation transfer cross sections with an ac Stark effect

Abstract
We show that it is possible to manipulate electronic energy transfer collision cross sections between different atomic species by using a strong electromagnetic field close to resonance with a transition between two excited states to modify the energy levels (i.e., to create dressed states), which may be placed in or out of resonance with populated states (forming a population reservoir) in one of the species. We outline an estimate for a transfer cross section for a demonstration scheme and show that cross-section enhancements up to the order of 103 are possible.