TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamics of ultrahigh molecular Rydbergs in weak electric fields
AU - Bixon, M.
AU - Jortner, Joshua
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - In this paper we explore the dynamics of the mixed Stark manifold of ultrahigh Rydberg states (principal quantum number n = 50-250) of the large molecules interrogated by time-resolved ZEKE (zero-electron kinetic energy) spectroscopy. We pursue the formal analogy between the coupling, accessibility, and decay of ultrahigh Rydbergs in an external weak (F = 0.01-1.0 V/cm) electric field and intramolecular (interstate and intrastate) relaxation in a bound level structure. The effective Hamiltonian formalism with several doorway and escape states was advanced to treat the dynamics. The theory accounts for the dilution effect, i.e., the dramatic lengthening of the lifetimes of ultrahigh Rydbergs, relative to that expected on the basis of the n-3 scaling law for the decay widths. Model calculations for the field-induced (l) mixing reveal that the Rydberg time-resolved population probability is characterized by two distinct (∼ns and ∼μs) time scales. To date, long time-resolved (10 μs-100 ns time scales) nonexponential decay of ZEKE Rydbergs was experimentally documented, in accord with our analysis. The predicted existence of the short decay times (1-10 ns) was not yet subjected to an experimental test. Next, we extend the model calculations to treat the mixing of several n manifolds, demonstrating that in the strong mixing limit the overall features of the temporal decay are similar to that of a single n manifold.
AB - In this paper we explore the dynamics of the mixed Stark manifold of ultrahigh Rydberg states (principal quantum number n = 50-250) of the large molecules interrogated by time-resolved ZEKE (zero-electron kinetic energy) spectroscopy. We pursue the formal analogy between the coupling, accessibility, and decay of ultrahigh Rydbergs in an external weak (F = 0.01-1.0 V/cm) electric field and intramolecular (interstate and intrastate) relaxation in a bound level structure. The effective Hamiltonian formalism with several doorway and escape states was advanced to treat the dynamics. The theory accounts for the dilution effect, i.e., the dramatic lengthening of the lifetimes of ultrahigh Rydbergs, relative to that expected on the basis of the n-3 scaling law for the decay widths. Model calculations for the field-induced (l) mixing reveal that the Rydberg time-resolved population probability is characterized by two distinct (∼ns and ∼μs) time scales. To date, long time-resolved (10 μs-100 ns time scales) nonexponential decay of ZEKE Rydbergs was experimentally documented, in accord with our analysis. The predicted existence of the short decay times (1-10 ns) was not yet subjected to an experimental test. Next, we extend the model calculations to treat the mixing of several n manifolds, demonstrating that in the strong mixing limit the overall features of the temporal decay are similar to that of a single n manifold.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0000289834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/j100019a032
DO - 10.1021/j100019a032
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AN - SCOPUS:0000289834
SN - 0022-3654
VL - 99
SP - 7466
EP - 7472
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry
IS - 19
ER -