Dunning, F. B.2009-06-042009-06-042000Haich, Christian Allen. "Design and development of an apparatus to study atom-surface interactions using Rydberg atoms." (2000) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17339">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17339</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17339An apparatus has been developed for studying the interaction of Rydberg atoms with surfaces, particularly the perturbation of Rydberg states by a nearby surface and the distance from the surface at which resonance ionization occurs. For this purpose, a source of metastable Xe(3P 0,2) atoms was constructed and characterized. Using single photon laser excitation from the 6s'[1/2]0 state, the nf[3/2]1 Rydberg series for n = 16--20 has been observed with signals well above the background. Measurements of the energy levels of these Rydberg states has identified systematic errors in quoted energy levels from earlier work. The isotopic structure of the 20f Rydberg state was resolved, and the effect of Rydberg excitation in an electric field was investigated. Studies are underway to better understand the behavior of Xe(nf) Rydberg atoms in an electric field. This information will be used in subsequent experiments to study Rydberg-surface interactions.51 p.application/pdfengCopyright 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.Condensed matter physicsAtomic physicsThesisTHESIS PHYS. 2000 HAICH