POPULATION OF STARK WAVE-PACKET STATES BY CW LASER EXCITATION

Using a unique method, we create coherent states in an atom by periodi cally (similar to 100-200 MHz) applying a low-amplitude, similar to 5- V/cm, ns electric-field pulse that drives the atoms to a realm where m any stationary states lie within a very narrow energy range. Using a c w laser we excite a coherent superposition of these coherent states an d probe the attributes of such a state in the frequency domain (rather than in the time domain). We show that such coherent superpositions e xhibit localized electronic probability densities and, therefore, qual ify as wave packets. [S1050-2947(98)50408-8].