Deflection of krypton Rydberg atoms in the field of an electric dipole

The controlled deflection of Rydberg atoms in an inhomogeneous electric fie ld is demonstrated and shown to be in agreement with predictions based on a well-defined Stark map. Krypton atoms in a supersonic beam are excited in a two-colour multiphoton process to selected Stark states with n = 16-19 an d undergo deflections in the field of an electrostatic dipole. The spatial distribution of the deflected atoms is monitored by ion imaging. The atoms travelling similar to 10 cm in the beam direction after excitation are defl ected from the beam axis by distances of up to 3 mm, the interaction with t he field taking place over 40 mus. Simulations of the trajectories agree we ll with the experimental results, demonstrating that the detected Rydberg a toms are those which have not undergone decay processes in the 40 mus appli ed field.