Chaotic ionization of a Rydberg atom subjected to alternating kicks

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dc.contributor.advisorDunning, F. B.en_US
dc.creatorYe, Shuzhenen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-08T00:40:14Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-03-08T00:40:14Zen_US
dc.date.issued2012en_US
dc.description.abstractQuasi-one-dimensional Rydberg atoms exposed to alternating positive and negative electric field pulses (kicks) are an example of a chaotic atomic system. Chaotic ionization is predicted in this system via a phase space turnstile mechanism, and we have explored this experimentally. Turnstiles form a general transport mechanism for numerous chaotic systems, and this study is the first to explicitly illuminate their relevance to atomic ionization. Two experiments are presented. In the first we show that the ionization of the electron depends not only on the initial electron energy, but also on the phase space position of the electron with respect to the turnstile--that part of the electron packet inside the turnstile ionizes quickly, after one period of the applied field, while that part outside the turnstile ionizes after multiple kicking periods. In the second experiment we show the signature of the turnstile manifests itself in the step-function-like behavior of the ionization fraction as a function of the kick strength. This behavior persists for different values of kicking periods and starting electron energies.en_US
dc.format.extent66 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS PHYS. 2012 YEen_US
dc.identifier.citationYe, Shuzhen. "Chaotic ionization of a Rydberg atom subjected to alternating kicks." (2012) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70504">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70504</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.digitalYeSen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/70504en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectPure sciencesen_US
dc.subjectAtomsen_US
dc.subjectSubatomic particlesen_US
dc.titleChaotic ionization of a Rydberg atom subjected to alternating kicksen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPhysicsen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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