Experimental and theoretical study of Stark patterns in Rb Rydberg levels

Stark patterns of high-lying excited states of rubidium (Rydberg states $n\sim 48$) in electric fields from 0 to 20 V/cm have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Recordings have been obtained with high-resolution laser techniques. Theoretical interpretation takes into account a great number of close-lying levels in the diagonalization process. In order to reproduce the positions as well as the intensities of the one-photon transitions from the ground state, it is necessary to use for $s$, $p$, and $d$ levels the wave functions calculated from a central potential specific to the Rb spectrum.