| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M37363/01 |
| Title: |
ATOMS IN CROSSED ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Connerade, Professor JP |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 June 1999 |
Ends: |
30 November 2002 |
Value (£): |
281,493
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Electronics |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Atomic spectra in crossed electric and magnetic fields will be studied. Observations of crossed field spectra will be extended towards high Rydberg states, where the underlying classical dynamics becomes chaotic. Spectra will be recorded with appropriate energy scaling for comparison with theory. In order to achieve this, an apparatus will be built in which electric and magnetic fields are both scaled under computer control as the laser is tuned, so as to preserve classical scaling of the orbits in crossed fields. To approach the ionisation limit more closely, we plan to introduce a detection method which is new for crossed fields. The cavity ring-down method will be adapted for this purpose, thus overcoming the limitations of current experiments based on field ionisation detection outside the interaction region. We will also improve laser resolution over earlier experiments and modify the excitation scheme, again to allow the semi-classical limit to be approached more closely. The spectra of Rydberg atoms in crossed fields will be explored over a range where the transition to 'quantum chaos' occurs. The increased resolution will allow us to look for the emergence of Wigner statistics. Lastly, we will extend observations into the continuum and the first autoionising range.
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Key Findings |
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.imperial.ac.uk |