Collisional ionisation of high-Rydberg atoms. Diffusive mechanism
- 14 September 1987
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Vol. 20 (17) , L565-L570
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3700/20/17/005
Abstract
The ionisation of highly excited Rydberg atoms in collisions with ground-state atoms is considered. The stationary diffusion-like mechanism of the ionisation is presented. The investigation is based on the Fokker-Planck equation. Analytical expressions for the probabilities of stationary diffusive ionisation are obtained and applied for the explanation of experimental results on the ionisation of highly excited Rydberg states of caesium in collisions with ground-state Cs atoms. It is concluded that the diffusive mechanism is the main mechanism for collisional ionisation of Rydberg atoms with n>or approximately=25-30.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- A theoretical determination of the diffusion-like ionisation time of Rydberg atomsJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1987
- Collisional ionisation probabilities of highly excited S1/2, D3/2and D5/2states of caesiumJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1986
- Associative ionisation rate constants as a function of quantum numbers n and l in Na*(nl)+Na(3s) collisions for 17⩽n⩽27 and l=0, l=1 and l⩾2Journal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1986
- Collisional ionisation of selectively excited sodium in an atomic beamJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1985
- Analytical expressions for cross sections of Rydberg-neutral inelastic collisionsJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1985
- Investigations on the thermionic diode: The ionisation probability of Rbn 2 P J atoms by noble gas collisionsApplied Physics B Laser and Optics, 1983
- Crossed-beam measurements of absolute rate coefficients in associative ionisation collisions between Na*(np) and Na(3s) for 5⩽n⩽15Journal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1983
- Inelastic collisions between high Rydberg (n≈40) and ground-state rubidium atoms at thermal energiesJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1983
- Ionisation in atom-Rydberg atom collisions: ejected electron energy spectra and reaction rate coefficientsJournal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1981
- The ionisation rate coefficients of radiatively excited rubidium atoms Rb(n2P) +Rb(52S)Journal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics, 1980