Title

Effective potentials for high Rydberg states in a magnetic field

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Abstract

Experiments have shown a wealth of sharp spectral features, even above the ionization limit, for an atom in a uniform magnetic field, and subsequent detailed calculations have accounted for them. While not competing in accuracy with such treatments, we provide a simple quantum-mechanical description forsuch energy levels and their stability, developing ideas advanced by Fano at the time of the very first observations. Eigenstates in a few analytically derived potential wells account for major features of the experimental observations. The procedure may also be of interest in other situations where particle motion in two (or more) equally important fields leads to unexpected structures and stability.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Physics Essays

First Page

400

Last Page

407

This document is currently not available here.

COinS