Excitation of Rydberg wavepackets by short laser pulses

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Abstract
The authors discuss a model excitation of Rydberg wavepackets by short laser pulses. They present an exact non-perturbative solution for a large class of optical pulse shapes. The analysis of exact solutions leads to a formulation and proof of the general approximation scheme (Wigner-Weisskopf-like) valid for arbitrary pulse shapes and a wide range of pulse frequencies, durations and intensities. It is found that the arrangement of the wavefunction depends strongly on the shape of the laser pulse. Coherence of the packet seems to reflect the smoothness of the pulse. Finally, the authors show the equivalence of the saturation processes and the free evolution in the creation of the coherence of the wavepacket, in the case of non-smooth pulse shapes.