Nordlander, Peter J.2009-06-042009-06-042000Braun, Jochen. "Energies and lifetimes of xenon Rydberg atoms near a metal surface." (2000) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17325">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17325</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17325We present calculations of the broadening and the shifts of the Rydberg electron levels of a Xenon atom near a metal surface. The Xenon atom is described using a pseudopotenial. The energies and widths of the Xenon states, computed from the Schrodinger equation using the complex scaling method, exhibit a complicated distance dependence. We show that some of the orbitals hybridize, when the atom approaches the surface. This effect even causes the widths of some states to decrease with decreasing atom-surface separation.54 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 BRAUN