Designing Rydberg wavepackets using trains of half-cycle pulses

A technique for generating Rydberg wavepackets in preferred target states i s demonstrated that exploits the mixed phase space structure of the periodi cally 'kicked' Rydberg atom. Experimental data and classical simulations fo r very-high-n Rydberg atoms are presented that show that application of a t rain of equispaced, unidirectional half-cycle pulses can lead to localizati on of the final wavepacket in classical stable islands. The product wavepac kets are examined using a delayed half-cycle probe pulse. It is demonstrate d that the motion of the wavepackets is either quasiperiodic or random depe nding on whether or not the initial state of the atom overlaps a stable isl and.