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Results for “ATOMIC EXCITATION”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

The Contribution of the Atomic Excitation and Recollision Effect during Tunneling Ionization on the Transition Rate

We used the Dykhne formalism to develop an analytical model for correlated simultaneous ionization excitation process of two-electron helium-like atoms in a strong laser field, and then analyzed the contribution of recollision effect on transition rate in a linearly polarized laser field. Also, we briefly discussed recollision effect in a circularly and linearly polarized laser field. We were interested to examine how atomic excitation and recollision affect the transition rate because observations indicated the significance of both processes on the tunneling ionization of atoms in a linearly polarized laser radiation. We showed that, under the conditions considered here, the aforementioned effects play an important role and, therefore, must be taken into account in the case of a linear polarization, while the recollision effect do not affect the rate in a circular polarization.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Deterministic single-atom excitation via adiabatic passage and Rydberg blockade

We propose to use adiabatic rapid passage with a chirped laser pulse in the strong dipole blockade regime to deterministically excite only one Rydberg atom from randomly loaded optical dipole traps or optical lattices. The chirped laser excitation is shown to be insensitive to the random number N of the atoms in the traps. Our method overcomes the problem of the {radical}(N) dependence of the collective Rabi frequency, which was the main obstacle for deterministic single-atom excitation in the ensembles with unknown N, and can be applied for single-atom loading of dipole traps and optical lattices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

On the Sub-Doppler Spectroscopy of Optically Excited Atoms in a Thin Gas Cell

This work continues a theoretical investigation of the capabilities of the well-known method based on using a monochromatic probe light beam in combination with optical pumping of atoms (molecules) of a rarefied-gas medium by a broadband radiation in a thin cell the diameter of which is much larger than its internal thickness. In contrast to calculations carried out in the previous publications on this method of spectroscopy, here, we consider the case of arbitrary values of pump intensity and thickness of a cylindrical gas cell. Thus, all the possible mechanisms and specificities of velocity selection of atoms in optically excited levels caused by transit-time relaxation of such atoms in gas cells of this kind are analyzed. Within the framework of this approach, sub-Doppler absorption resonances of the probe light beam corresponding to quantum transitions from the upper level excited by optical pumping are investigated. The obtained results can be used in high-resolution spectroscopy of atoms (molecules), as well as for laser-frequency stabilization to established narrow spectral resonances.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Hydrogen atom excitation in intense attosecond laser field: Gauge dependence of dipole approximation

It is assumed that, the atomic excitations probability can be calculated using first order perturbation theory and dipole approximations. The validity of the dipole approximations had been examined by comparing the results with the results obtained by exact calculations within the first order perturbation theory[2]. Figure 1 shows the time dependence of the transition probability in the dipole approximation. From these plots it is obvious that, the probabilities obtained in the length gauge are higher than that in the velocity gauge, in the interaction period (−τ/2<t<τ/2). After passing this time interval, transition probabilities for these two gauges became equal to each other precisely. Moreover those results are equal to the corresponding exact (without the dipole approximation) calculations results. (Figure 2) Though the time evolution of the same transition probabilities are different for these cases, the final results are the same for all three cases, excluding the 6s-6p{sub 0} transition. For the later case, only the length gauge give a false results, but the velocity gauge give the same result as the exact one, for the final value of the transition probability.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

The character of resonant charge exchange involving highly excited atoms

We study the process of resonant charge exchange involving excited helium atoms with the principal quantum number n = 5 colliding with the helium ion in the ground state in the collision energy range from thermal up to 10 eV. This information may be important for the analysis of planet atmospheres containing helium, in particular, for Jupiter's atmosphere, but our basic interest is the transition from the quantum to classical description of this process, where, due to large cross sections, evaluations of the cross sections are possible. For the chosen process, quantum theory allows determining the cross section as a result of a tunnel electron transition, while classical theory accounts for over-barrier electron transitions. The classical theory additionally requires effective transitions between states with close energies. The analysis of these transitions for helium with n = 5 shows that electron momenta and their projections are mixed for a part of the states, while for other states, the mixing is absent. A simple criterion to separate such states is given. In addition, the main contribution to the cross section of resonant charge exchange follows from tunnel electron transitions. As a result, the quantum theory is better for calculating the cross sections of resonant charge exchange than the classical one and also allows finding the partial cross sections of resonant charge exchange, while the classical approach gives the cross section of resonant charge exchange in a simple manner with the accuracy of 20%.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Nonmonotonic radial distribution of excited atoms in a positive column of pulsed direct currect discharges in helium

Nonmonotonic radial distributions of excited helium atoms have been experimentally observed in a positive column of pulsed helium discharges using planar laser induced fluorescence. Computational analysis of the discharge dynamics with a fluid plasma model confirms the experimental observations over a range of pressures and currents. The observed effect is attributed to the peculiarities of electron population-depopulation of the excited states during the 'dynamic discharge' conditions with strong modulations of the electric field maintaining the plasma.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Quantum gates on asynchronous atomic excitations

A method for realising a universal system of quantum gates based on asynchronous excitations of two-level atoms in optical cavities is proposed. The entangling operator of the CSign type is implemented without beam splitters, approximately, using the incommensurability of the Rabi oscillation periods in a cavity with single and double excitations. (quantum technology)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Casimir-Polder potential on an excited atom near an atomic array

We develop a microscopic description of the fluctuation-mediated Casimir-Polder (CP) shifts on a 'test' two-level atom placed near a two-dimensional atomic array of two-level atoms. We derive the resonant and off-resonant CP potentials experienced by the excited test atom using fourth-order perturbation theory, under the assumption that the test atom resonance is far detuned from those of the array atoms. The total potential on the test atom can be described as the sum of the pairwise resonant and off-resonant potentials resulting from its interaction with the individual atoms of the array. We analyze the asymptotic scaling of CP shifts as a function of the test atom-array separation, and its dependence on various system parameters: array spacing and size, and dipole orientation of the array atoms. Our results bridge the description of CP potential across two distinct regimes: (i) from a single-atom limit where we recover the well-known two-atom Van der Waals potential, (ii) to a macroscopic boundary limit, where we demonstrate new asymptotic scaling laws. We demonstrate that these scaling laws can be tuned via the microscopic parameters of the atomic array, establishing atomically-controlled arrays as a versatile platform for tailoring fluctuation-induced QED phenomena.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coherent-control phase lag across doubly excited atomic strontium resonances in an ω - 2 ω interference scheme

Accurate calculations of phase lag associated with coherent control where an excited system decays into more than one product channel have recently been reported for atomic barium in Wang and Greene [Y. Wang and C. H. Greene, Phys. Rev. A 105, 013113 (2022)]. The present study extends the calculations to make predictions of that observable for another alkaline-earth-metal atom, strontium, with a discussion of its spectrum and phase lag for energies between the Sr + 4⁢d 3/2 and 4⁢d 5/2 thresholds. Here, we explore the physics influenced by the electron correlations of strontium and the long-range Coulomb potential. The behavior of the phase lag cannot be simply addressed by a time-delay analysis, although the latter is often used to address the prominent channel of resonance decay of doubly excited states.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The stereo-dynamics of collisional autoionization of ammonia by helium and neon metastable excited atoms through molecular beam experiments

A combined analysis of both new (energy spectra of emitted electrons) and previously published (ionization cross sections) experimental data, measured under the same conditions and concerning electronically excited lighter noble gas –NH{sub 3} collisional autoionization processes, is carried out. Such an analysis, performed by exploiting a formulation of the full potential energy surface both in the real and imaginary parts, provides direct information on energetics, structure, and lifetime of the intermediate collision complex over all the configuration space. The marked anisotropy in the attraction of the real part, driving the approach of reagents, and the selective role of the imaginary component, associated to the charge transfer coupling between entrance and exit channels, suggests that reactive events occur almost exclusively in the molecular hemisphere containing the nitrogen lone pair. Crucial details on the stereo-dynamics of elementary collisional autoionization processes are then obtained, in which the open shell nature of the disclosed ionic core of metastable atom plays a crucial role. The same analysis also suggests that the strength of the attraction and the anisotropy of the interaction increases regularly along the series Ne{sup *}({sup 3}P), He{sup *}({sup 3}S), He{sup *}({sup 1}S)–NH{sub 3}. These findings can be ascribed to the strong rise of the metastable atom electronic polarizability (deformability) along the series. The obtained results can stimulate state of the art ab initio calculations focused on specific features of the transition state (energetics, structure, lifetime, etc.) which can be crucial for a further improvement of the adopted treatment and to better understand the nature of the leading interaction components which are the same responsible for the formation of the intermolecular halogen and hydrogen bond.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Pulse analysis by delayed absorption from a coherently excited atom

In this tutorial, we provide a short review of attosecond pulse characterization techniques and a pedagogical account of a recently proposed method called Pulse Analysis by Delayed Absorption (PANDA) [S. Pabst and J. M. Dahlstr¨om, Phys. Rev. A 94, 013411 (2016)]. We discuss possible implementations of PANDA in alkali atoms using either principal quantum number wave packets or spin-orbit wave packets. The main merit of the PANDA method is that it can be used as a pulse characterization method that is free from atomic latency effects, such as scattering phase shifts and long-lived atomic resonances. Finally, we propose that combining the PANDA method with angle-resolved photoelectron detection should allow for experimental measurements of attosecond delays in photoionization from bound wave packets on the order of tens of attoseconds.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Extreme Correlation and Repulsive Interactions in Highly Excited Atomic Alkali Anions

At high energies, single-photon photodetachment of alkali negative ions populates final states where both the ejected electron and the residual valence electron possess high angular momenta. The photodetached electron interacts strongly with the anisotropic core, and thus the partial cross sections for these channels display non-Wigner threshold behavior reflecting these large, and occasionally repulsive, interactions. Our fully quantum-mechanical theoretical study enables a deeper interpretation of these partial cross sections. Comparisons of the behavior in different channels and between different atomic species—sodium, potassium, and cesium—show the critical role of near degeneracies in the energy spectrum and demonstrate that much of the behavior of the partial photodetachment cross sections stems from the permanent, rather than induced, electric dipole moments of these nearly degenerate channels. This provides a concrete example of a system where negative dispersion forces play a decisive role.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Numerical model of the plasma formation at electron beam welding

The model of plasma formation in the keyhole in liquid metal as well as above the electron beam welding zone is described. The model is based on solution of two equations for the density of electrons and the mean electron energy. The mass transfer of heavy plasma particles (neutral atoms, excited atoms, and ions) is taken into account in the analysis by the diffusion equation for a multicomponent mixture. The electrostatic field is calculated using the Poisson equation. Thermionic electron emission is calculated for the keyhole wall. The ionization intensity of the vapors due to beam electrons and high-energy secondary and backscattered electrons is calibrated using the plasma parameters when there is no polarized collector electrode above the welding zone. The calculated data are in good agreement with experimental data. Results for the plasma parameters for excitation of a non-independent discharge are given. It is shown that there is a need to take into account the effect of a strong electric field near the keyhole walls on electron emission (the Schottky effect) in the calculation of the current for a non-independent discharge (hot cathode gas discharge). The calculated electron drift velocities are much bigger than the velocity at which current instabilities arise. This confirms the hypothesis for ion-acoustic instabilities, observed experimentally in previous research.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Characterization of stable brush-shaped large-volume plasma generated at ambient air

A brush-shaped, large-volume plasma was generated at ambient pressure with a dc power supply and flowing argon gas, as well as a narrow outlet slit. Based on the V-I curve and emission profiles obtained in our experiment, the plasma shows some typical glow discharge characteristics. The electron density in the positive column close to the anode is about 1.4x10{sup 14}cm{sup -3} high, which is desirable for generating abundant amounts of reactive species in the plasma. Emission spectroscopy diagnosis indicates that many reactive species, such as excited argon atoms, excited oxygen atoms, excited nitrogen molecules, OH and C{sub 2} radicals, etc., generated within the plasma are distributed symmetrically and uniformly, which is preferable to some chemical reactions in practical applications. Spectral measurement also shows that the concentration of some excited argon atoms increases with the argon flow rate when the applied voltage is unvaried, while that of these excited argon atoms declines with the discharge current in the normal/subnormal glow discharge mode with the argon flow rate fixed. The plasma size is about 15 mm x 1 mm x 19 mm (L, W, H), when 38-W of discharge power is used. Such a laminar brush-shaped large-volume plasma device ensures not only efficient utilization of the plasma gas, but also effective processing of objects with large volume and complicated structure that are susceptible to high temperatures.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Effects of vacuum fluctuation suppression on atomic decay rates

Highlights: > Excited atoms are shot through a cavity containing an electromagnetic field. > Cavity is in the lowest mode in a non-classical state. > Such a state can suppress the decay rate of the atoms in certain situations. > We show that this effect can be correlated with periods of negative energy density. - Abstract: The use of atomic decay rates as a probe of sub-vacuum phenomena will be studied. Because electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations are essential for radiative decay of excited atomic states, decay rates can serve as a measure of the suppression of vacuum fluctuations in non-classical states, such as squeezed vacua. In such states, the renormalized expectation value of the square of the electric field or the energy density can be periodically negative, representing suppression of vacuum fluctuations. We explore the extent to which atomic decays can be used to measure the mean squared electric field or energy density. We consider a scheme in which atoms in an excited state transit a closed cavity whose lowest mode contains photons in a non-classical state. A crucial feature of our analysis is that we do not employ the rotating wave approximation. The change in the decay probability of the atom in the cavity due to the non-classical state can, under certain circumstances, serve as a measure of the mean squared electric field or energy density in the cavity. We make some estimates of the magnitude of this effect, which indicate that an experimental test might be possible, although very challenging.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Note: Determining the detection efficiency of excited neutral atoms by a microchannel plate detector

We present a method for determining the detection efficiency of neutral atoms relative to keV ions. Excited D* atoms are produced by D{sub 2} fragmentation in a strong laser field. The fragments are detected by a micro-channel plate detector either directly as neutrals or as keV ions following field ionization and acceleration by a static electric field. Moreover, we propose a new mechanism by which neutrals are detected. We show that the ratio of the yield of neutrals and ions can be related to the relative detection efficiency of these species.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Determination of the fraction of excited iodine atoms produced by dissociation of iodides in a self-sustained pulsed discharge

Based on the measured absorption coefficient for the atomic iodine transition in the mixtures of iodides with helium we have determined the fractions of the excited atomic iodine produced by dissociation of CH{sub 3}I, CF{sub 3}I, i-C{sub 3}F{sub 7}I, C{sub 2}F{sub 5}I and C{sub 2}H{sub 5}I molecules in a self-sustained pulsed discharge. In the 1: (3 – 15) mixtures of iodides with helium at the pressure 133 – 400 Pa these fractions amount to 0.29 for CF{sub 3}I and CH{sub 3}I, 0.2 for i-C{sub 3}F{sub 7}I, and 0.31 for C{sub 2}F{sub 5}I and C{sub 2}H{sub 5}I. The accuracy of determining the excited iodine fraction is 10%. The numerical modelling is carried out for the mixtures containing CF{sub 3}I. The calculated values of the excited iodine fraction for the mixture with CF{sub 3}I agree well with the experimental data. (paper)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗