RUBIDIUM RYDBERG ATOMS IN STRONG STATIC FIELDS

A report on experiments performed in Munich on Rydberg atoms in strong static fields is presented. These include high-resolution laser spect roscopy and wavepacket generation and detection. The results are mainl y interpreted by semiclasscial techniques. Using the Fourier analysis of high-resolution scaled spectra in strong crossed electric and magne tic fields, quasi-Landau resonances in a particular parameter range ar e investigated. The problem of singularities in the semiclassical mode ls describing the quasi-Landau spectra is discussed, and a qualitative solution to this problem is given. Rydberg wavepackets in strong magn etic fields were investigated. For this purpose Rydberg atoms are exci ted by pairs of time-separated short uv laser pulses. In these experim ents the superior performance of a recently proposed technique is demo nstrated. The obtained results for strong magnetic fields are interpre ted semiclassically. Wavepacket propagation along a particular quasi-L andau orbit is clearly identified. In the last part of the paper, prop erties of high angular momentum Rydberg atoms in strong crossed electr ic and magnetic fields are discussed. The classically regular motion i n that regime corresponds to situations well known from the motion of charged particles in Penning traps. A simple method for the preparatio n and isolation of this type of Rydberg atom is presented.