Atoms in electric fields

This section deals with how atoms behave in static electric fields. The method is straightforward, involving second order perturbation theory. The treatment describes the effects of symmetry on the basic interaction, polarizability, and the concept of oscillator strength.

▼ Category:8.421

► Category:Atoms in electric fields

  Atoms

  Atoms in electric fields

  Atoms in Magnetic Fields

  Coherence

  Effects of the Nucleus on Atomic Structure

  Fine Structure and Lamb Shift

  Higher-Order Radiation Processes

  Interaction of an atom with an electromagnetic field

  Old Coherence

  Resonances

  Two-Photon Excitation

Perturbation Theory of Polarizability

We will find the energy and polarizability of an atom in a static field along the +z direction. We apply perturbation theory taking Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H_0} to describe the unperturbed atomic system and

$H^{\prime }=-d\cdot {\hat {z}}{\mathcal {E}}=ez{\mathcal {E}}$

Non-degenerate eigenstates have to be eigenstates of parity. Since $H^{\prime }$ is odd under parity operation, parity requires that Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H_{mm}^\prime = 0} . So the first order perturbation vanishes. To second order, the energy is given by

$E_{n}=E_{n}^{(0)}-e^{2}{\mathcal {E}}^{2}\sum '_{m}{\frac {|\langle m|z|n\rangle |^{2}}{E_{m}-E_{n}}}$

If we define now the polarizability in state Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} as

{EQ_polarsix}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha_n = 2e^2 \sum'_{m} \frac{| \langle m| z | n {\rangle}|^2}{E_m - E_n} }

we obtain $E_{n}-E_{n}^{(0)}=-\alpha {\mathcal {E}}^{2}/2$

The dipole moment is the expectation value of the dipole operator, using the first order perturbed state vector.

$d_{nm}=(\langle n^{(0)}|+\langle n^{(1)}|)\;{\bf {d}}\;(|n^{(0)}\rangle +|n^{(1)}\rangle )$

$=2{\rm {Re}}[\langle n^{(0)}|d|n^{(1)}\rangle ]=2e^{2}{\rm {Re}}{\left[\sum _{s,m}{\frac {\langle n^{(0)}|s|m\rangle \langle m|z|n^{(0)}\rangle }{E_{m}-E_{n}}}\right]}{\hat {s}}\cdot {\hat {z}}{\mathcal {E}}$

where the sum is over $s=x,y,z.$ Only the term Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle s = z} will contribute, and we can express the induced dipole moment by the polarizability:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d= \alpha \mathcal{E} \hat{z} }

Note that the Stark shift is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_n - E_n^{(0)} = - \langle d \rangle \mathcal{E} /2 } and not equal to Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle H' \rangle = - \langle d \rangle \mathcal{E} } . Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle H' \rangle } is the expectation value for the electrostatic potential energy of the dipole moment, but the total energy change is only one half of this since energy is needed to admix excited states into the ground state.

Note that polarizability has the dimensions of length$^{3}$, i.e. volume. As an example, for the ground state of hydrogen we can obtain a lower limit for the polarizability by considering only the contribution to the sum of the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 2P} state. Values for the various moments in hydrogen are given in Bethe and Salpeter, Section 63. Using Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle | \langle 2P | r | 1S \rangle |^2} = 1.666, and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_{2p}- E_{1S}= 3/8} , we obtain $\alpha =2.96$ atomic units (i.e. Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 2.96 \; a_0^3} ).

The polarizability of the ground state of hydrogen can be calculated exactly. It turns out that the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 2P} state makes the major contribution, and that the higher bound states contribute relatively little. However, the continuum makes a significant contributions. The exact value is 4.5.

To put the above result for the polarizability in perspective, note that the potential of a conducting sphere of radius Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R} in a uniform electric field Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{E} } is given by

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle V(r,\theta ) = -\mathcal{E} \cos \theta \left( r - \frac{R^3}{r^2} \right) \ (r\geq R) }

The induced dipole moment is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R^3 \mathcal{E}} , so that the polarizability is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R^3} . For the ground state of hydrogen, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \bar{r}^3 = 2.75} , so to a crude approximation, in an electric field hydrogen behaves like a conducting sphere.

Polarizability may be approximated easily, though not accurately, using Unsold's approximation in which the energy term in the denominator of Eq. \ref{EQ_polarsix} is replaced by an average energy interval Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \overline{E_m} -E_n} . The sum can then be evaluated using the closure rule Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sum_{m} | m \rangle \langle m | =1} . (Note that the term Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle m = n} does not need to be excluded from the sum, since Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle n | z | n \rangle = 0} .). With this approximation,

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_n = \frac{2e^2}{\overline{E_m} - E_n} \sum_{m} \langle n |z|m \rangle \langle m|z|n{\rangle}=\frac{2e^2 \langle n|z^2|n{\rangle}}{\overline{E_m}-E_n} }

For hydrogen in the ground state, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \overline{z^2} = 1} . If we take the average excitation energy to be Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \overline{E_m} = 0} , the result is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha = 4} .

If we use the virial theorem for the ground state energy, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_g= -(e^2/2) \langle r^{-1} \rangle_g } and use Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle g|z^2|g \rangle = (1/3) \langle r^2 \rangle_g } we obtain

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha_g=\frac{4}{3} \frac{\langle r^2 \rangle_g}{\langle r^{-1} \rangle_g} }

which shows that the polarizability is related to the atomic volume.

Beyond the quadratic Stark effect

It should be obvious from the previous discussion that the Stark effect for a state of Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g} is quadratic only when

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{align} \ \epsilon << \frac{E_ i - E_ g}{e | \langle i| {\bf r} | g \rangle |} \end{align}}

(EQ_ beyondone)

when Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle i} is the nearest state of opposite parity to Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g} .

If Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g} is the ground state, we can expect Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_ i=E_ g \sim 0.5} Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_ g , ~ E_ g \sim 0.3} Hartree and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle | <r>|^{-1} \approx | <r^{-1}>| =2 E_ g/e^2} (virial theorem). Hence the Stark shift should be quadratic if the field is well below the critical value

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{align} \ \epsilon _{crit} = \frac{0.5 \times 2(0.3)^2m^2e^8}{e^3\hbar ^4} \approx 0.1 \frac{e}{a_0^2} \end{align}}

(EQ_ beyondtwo)

[Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle e/a_0^2} is atomic unit of field] $\approx 5\times 10^{8}V/{\rm {cm}}$ —a field three orders of magnitude in excess of what can be produced in a laboratory except in a vanishingly small volume.

If $g$ is an excited state, say Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |g\rangle = |n\ell \rangle } , this situation changes dramatically. In general, the matrix element $<n,\ell +1|{\bf {r}}|n,\ell >\sim n^{2}a_{0}$ and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Delta E} to the next level of opposite parity depends on the quantum defect:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{align} \ \Delta E = E_{n, \ell +1} - E_{n,\ell } = \frac{-R_ H}{(n-\delta _{\ell +1)^2}} - \frac{-R_ H}{(n-\delta _{\ell })^2 } \approx 2R_ H (\delta _{\ell +1} -\delta _{\ell })/n^{3} \end{align}}

(EQ_ beyondthree)

Thus the critical field is lowered to

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon_{\rm crit} = \frac{\Delta E}{e< | {\bf r} | >} = \frac{me^4}{\hbar^2} \frac{1}{ea_0}\frac{\delta_{\ell +1} -\delta_{\ell}}{n^{5}}}

${\begin{aligned}\ ={\frac {e}{a_{0}^{2}}}{\frac {\delta _{\ell +1}-\delta _{\ell }}{n^{5}}}\approx 5\times 10^{9}{\frac {\delta _{\ell -1}-\delta _{\ell }}{n^{5}}}{\frac {\rm {volts}}{\rm {cm}}}\end{aligned}}$

(EQ_ beyondfour)

Considering that quantum defects are typically Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \leq 10^{-5}} when Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell \geq \ell _{\rm core} + 2 \ (\ell _{\rm core}} is the largest $\ell$ of an electron in the core), it is clear that even 1 V/cm fields will exceed Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon _{\rm crit}} for higher Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell } levels if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n > 7} . Large laboratory fields (Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 10^5} V/cm) can exceed Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon _{\rm crit}} even for Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle S} states if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n\geq 5} .

When the electric field exceeds Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon _{\rm crit}} states with different Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell } but the same Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} are degenerate to the extent that their quantum defects are small. Once Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell } exceeds the number of core electrons, these states will easily become completely mixed by the field and they must be diagonalized exactly. The result is eigenstates possessing apparently permanent electric dipoles with a resulting linear Stark shift (see following figure). As the field increases, these states spread out in energy. First they run into states with the same Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} but different quantum defects; then the groups of states with different Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} begin to overlap. At this point a matrix containing all Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n, \ell } states with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell } greater or equal to Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle m_\ell } must be diagonalized. Only the lowest Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} states do not partake in this strong mixing.

The situation described above differs qualitatively for hydrogen since it has no quantum defects and the energies are degenerate. In this case the zero-field problem may be solved using a basis which diagonalizes the Hamiltonian both for the atom above and also in the presence of an electric field. This approach corresponds to solving the H atom in parabolic–ellipsoidal coordinates and results in the presence of an integral quantum number which replaces Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \ell } . The resulting states possess permanent dipole moments which vary with this quantum number and therefore have linear Stark effects even in infinitesimal fields. Moreover the matrix elements which mix states from different $n$ manifolds vanish at all fields, so the upper energy levels from one manifold cross the lower energy levels from the manifold above without interacting with them.

The following example shows the high field Stark effect for Li. Only the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle S} term in Li has an appreciable quantum defect, and it has been suppressed by selecting final states with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle m_{\ell } =1} .

The dramatic difference between the physical properties of atoms with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n>10} and the properties of the same atoms in their ground state, coupled with the fact that these properties are largely independent of the type of atom which is excited, justifies the application of the name Rydberg atoms to highly excited atoms in general. Rydberg atoms have been pioneered by the groups of Kleppner, Haroche, Walther.

\caption{ Stark effect and field ionization in Li for levels with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle m=1} . Each vertical line in (a)represents a measurement at that field of the number of atoms excited (from the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 3s} state) by radiation whose energy falls the indicated amount below the ionization limit. Thus the patterns made by absorption peaks at successive field strengths represent the behavior of the energy levels with increasing field. At zero field the levels group according to the principal quantum number Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} ; at intermediate field the levels display a roughly linear Stark effect, and at high fields they disappear owing to field ionization. The solid line is the classically predicted ionization field (see next section). Figure taken from M.G. Littman, M.M. Kash and D. Kleppner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 41, 103–107 (1978).}

Field ionization

If an atom is placed in a sufficiently high electric field it will be ionized, a process called field ionization . An excellent order of magnitude estimate of the field Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon _{\rm ion}} , required to ionize an atom which is initially in a level bound by energy Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E} can be obtained by the following purely classical argument: the presence of the field adds the term Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle U(z)=e \epsilon z} to the potential energy of the atom. This produces a potential with a maximum Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle U_{\rm max} < 0} and the atom will ionize if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle U_{\rm max} < -E} .

The figure shows the combined potential as well as $U_{\rm {atom}}$ and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle U_{\rm field}} .

\caption{Potential diagram for field ionization. }

${\begin{aligned}\ U_{\rm {total}}(z)=U_{\rm {atom}}(z)+U_{\rm {field}}(z)={\frac {-e^{2}}{|z|}}+e\epsilon z\end{aligned}}$

(EQ_ fieldionone)

The appropriate maximum occurs at

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{align} \ z_{\rm max} = - {\left(\frac{e}{\epsilon }\right)^{1/2}} \end{align}}

(EQ_ fieldiontwo)

as determined from Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle dU/dz = 0} . Equating $U_{\rm {max}}=-2e^{3/2}\epsilon ^{1/2}$ and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -E=-Ryd/n^2} gives

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{align} \ \epsilon _{ion} = \frac{E^2}{4e^2} = \frac{1}{16n^{*4}} \frac{e}{a_0^2}= 3.2\times 10^8 (n^*)^{-4} \ {\rm V/cm} \end{align}}

(EQ_ fieldionthree)

for level with energy Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -E} and quantum number Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n^*} .

The predictions of this formula for Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_{\rm ion}} is usually accurate within 20% in spite of its neglect of both quantum tunneling and the change in Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E} produced by the field. Tunneling manifests itself as a finite decay rate for states which classically lie lower than the barrier. The increase of the ionization rate with field is so dramatic, however, that the details of the experiment do not influence the field at which ionization occurs very much: calculations [u'BHR65'] show the ionization rate increasing from Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 10^5} /sec to Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 10^{10}} /sec for a 30% increase in the field.

Oddly enough the classical prediction works worse for H than for any other atom. This is a reflection of the fact that certain matrix elements necessary to mix the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n,\ell } states (so the wave function samples the region near Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle U_{\rm max}} ) are rigorously zero in H, as discussed in the preceding part of this section. Hence the orbital ellipse of the electron does not precess and can remain on the side of the nucleus. There its energy will increase with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \epsilon } , but it will not spill over the lip of the potential and ionize.

Field ionization is an important technique with applications in applied and fundamental science. Its important feature is close to 100 % detection efficiency for atoms excited to Rydberg states.

Applied application: Detection of trace elements. After Chernobyl, field ionization techniques were refined to detect radioactive strontium isotopes or other radio-isotopes. The spectroscopic scheme was excitation to Rydberg states (which is isotope specific thanks to isotope shifts), followed by field ionization. See, e.g. Wendt et al., Physica Scripta T58, 104-108 (1995).

Fundamental physics: Field ionization has been used by Haroche's and Walther's group for a series of studies of Rydberg atoms exchanging photons with a microwave cavity, e.g. for the single atom maser experiment, or for other QED studies. See, e.g. Brune et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1800 (1996).

Atoms in an Oscillating Electric Field

There is a close connection between the behavior of an atom in a static electric field and its response to an oscillating field, i.e. a connection between the Stark effect and radiation processes. In the former case, the field induces a static dipole moment; in the latter case, it induces an oscillating moment. An oscillating moment creates an oscillating macroscopic polarization and leads to the absorption and emission of radiation. We shall calculate the response of an atom to an oscillating field

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{E} (\omega , t) \hat{e} = \mathcal{E} \hat{e} \cos\omega t }

where ${\hat {e}}$ is the polarization vector for the field. For a weak field the time varying state of this system can be found from first order time dependent perturbation theory. We shall write the electric dipole operator as D = -er. (This is a change of notation. Previously the symbol was d.) The Hamiltonian naturally separates into two parts, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H= H_0 + H^\prime (t)} , where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H_0} is the unperturbed Hamiltonian and

{EQ_atomoef2}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H^\prime = -D \cdot \hat{e} \mathcal{E} \cos \omega t = - \frac{1}{2} (e^{i\omega t} + e^{-i\omega t} ) \mathcal{E} \hat{e} \cdot D }

We shall express the solution of the time dependent Schroedinger equation in terms of the eigenstates of $H_{0},|n\rangle$.

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle | \psi \rangle = \sum_{n} a_n e^{-i\omega_n t} | n \rangle ~~~H_0 |\psi \rangle = \hbar \sum_{n} a_n \omega_n e^{-i\omega_n t} |n \rangle }

where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega_n = E_n/\hbar} . Because of the perturbation $H^{\prime }(t)$, the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_n} 's become time dependent, and we have

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle i\hbar\frac{|\partial \psi \rangle }{\partial t} = {\left( H_0 + H^\prime \right)} \sum_{n} a_n e^{-i \omega_n t} |n \rangle = \sum_{n} \hbar {\left( a_n \omega_n + i\dot{a}_n \right)} |n \rangle e^{-i\omega_n t} }

Left multiplying the final two expressions by Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle k|} to project out the Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k} -th terms yields

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \dot{a}_k = (i\hbar )^{-1} \sum_{n} \langle k | H^\prime (t) |n \rangle a_n e^{i\omega_{kn} t} }

where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega_{kn} = \omega_k - \omega_n} . In perturbation theory, this set of equations is solved by a set of approximations to $a_{k}$ labeled Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_k^{(i)} (t)} . Starting with

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_n^{(0)} (t) = a_n (0) }

one sets

{EQ_atomoef7}

${\dot {a}}_{k}^{(i+1)}(t)=(i\hbar )^{-1}\sum _{n}\langle k|H^{\prime }(t)|n\rangle a_{n}^{(i)}(t)e^{i\omega _{kn}t}$

and solves for the successive approximations by integration.

We now apply this to the problem of an atom which is in its ground state Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle g} at Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t=0} , and which is subject to the interaction of Eq. \ref{EQ_atomoef2}. Consequently Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_g (0) = 1} , Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_{n\not= g} (0) = 0} . Substituting in Eq. \ref{EQ_atomoef7} and integrating from Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t^\prime = 0} to Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t} gives

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \begin{array}{rcl} a_k^{(1)} (t) &=& (i\hbar )^{-1} \int_{0}^{t} dt^\prime \langle k |H^\prime (t^\prime ) |g \rangle e^{i\omega_{kg}t^\prime } \\ &=& - (i\hbar )^{-1} \langle k |\hat{e} \cdot D |g \rangle \frac{\mathcal{E}}{2} \int_{0}^{t} dt^\prime {\left[ e^{i(\omega_{kg} + \omega )t^\prime } + e^{i(\omega_{kg} - \omega )t^\prime } \right]} \\ &=& \frac{\mathcal{E}}{2\hbar} \langle k |\hat{e} \cdot D |g \rangle {\left[ \frac{e^{i(\omega_{kg} +\omega )t}-1}{\omega_{kg} + \omega} + \frac{e^{i(\omega_{kg} - \omega )t}-1}{\omega_{kg}-\omega} \right]} \end{array}}

The -1 terms in the square bracketed term arises because it is assumed that the field was turned on instantaneously at Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t=0} . They represent transients that rapidly damp and can be neglected.

The term with $\omega _{kg}+\omega$, in the denominator is the counter-rotating term. It can be neglected if one is considering cases where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega \approx \omega_{kg}} (i.e. near resonance), but we shall retain both terms and calculate the expectation value of the first order time dependent dipole operator Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle D (\omega ,t) \rangle }

${\begin{array}{rcl}\langle D(\omega ,t)\rangle &=&2{\rm {Re}}{\left\{\langle g|{\bf {D}}|\sum _{k}a_{k}^{(1)}(t)e^{-i\omega _{kg}}|k\rangle \right\}}\\&=&{\mathcal {E}}{\rm {Re}}{\left[\sum _{k}{\frac {\langle g|D|k\rangle \langle k|{\hat {e}}\cdot D|g\rangle }{\hbar }}{\left\{{\frac {e^{i\omega t}}{\omega _{kg}+\omega }}+{\frac {e^{-i\omega t}}{\omega _{kg}-\omega }}\right\}}\right]}\end{array}}$

If we consider the case of linearly polarized light Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (\hat{e} = \hat{z})} , then

{EQ_atomoef10}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d_z (\omega , t) = \frac{2e^2}{\hbar} \sum_{k} \frac{\omega_{kg} | \langle k|z|g \rangle |^2}{\omega_{kg}^2 - \omega^2} \mathcal{E} \cos \omega t }

We can write Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d_z} in terms of a polarizability Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha (\omega )} :

{EQ_atomoef11}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha (\omega ) = \frac{2e^2}{\hbar} \sum_{k} \frac{\omega_{kg} | \langle k|z|g \rangle |^2}{\omega_{kg}^2 - \omega^2} }

This result diverges if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega \rightarrow \omega_{kg}} . Later, when we introduce radiative damping, the divergence will be avoided in the usual way. The AC Stark shift is given by Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}\alpha(\omega) \overline{\mathcal{E}(t)^2} } where the bar denotes the time average over the rapidly oscillating electric field.

For Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega \rightarrow 0} one retrieves the result for the DC Stark effect. Note that in the DC limit, the co- and counter-rotation terms contribute equally.

The AC Stark shift $\Delta E$ can be expressed by the Rabi frequency Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \hbar \omega_R= -e \mathcal{E} \langle e|z|g \rangle } as

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Delta E=-\frac{\hbar}{4} \omega_R^2 \left(\frac{1}{-\delta}+\frac{1}{2\omega-\delta} \right) }

This looks very similar to the result of time-independent perturbation theory, where the energy shift is the matrix element squared over the detuning. Here, we have the matrix element Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega_R/2} and two terms with detunings $\delta$ and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -(2\omega-\delta)} , respectively. This result emerges very naturally in the dressed atom picture which will be discussed later. Here, one considers the combined states of the atoms and the photon field. The ground state with N photons, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |g \rangle + N \gamma } interacts with the states $|e\rangle +(N-1)\gamma$ at detuning Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \delta} and the state Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |e\rangle + (N+1) \gamma } at detuning $-(2\omega -\delta )$.

Oscillator Strength

Eq. \ref{EQ_atomoef11} resemble the oscillating dipole moment of a system of classical oscillators. Consider a set of oscillators having charge Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle q_k} , mass Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle m} , and natural frequency $\omega _{k}$, driven by the field Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{E} \cos \omega t} . The amplitude of the motion is given by

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z_k = \frac{q_k}{m(\omega_k^2 - \omega^2)} \mathcal{E} \cos \omega t }

If we have a set of such oscillators, then the total oscillating moment is given by

{EQ_ostre2}

$d_{z}(\omega ,t)={\frac {1}{m}}\sum _{k}{\frac {q_{k}^{2}}{(\omega _{k}^{2}-\omega ^{2})}}{\mathcal {E}}\cos \omega t$

This is strongly reminiscent of Eq. \ref{EQ_atomoef10}. It is useful to introduce the concept of oscillator strength, a dimensionless quantity defined as

{EQ_ostre3}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_{kj} = \frac{2m}{\hbar} \omega_{kj} | \langle k|z|j \rangle |^2 }

where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k} and $j$ are any two eigenstates. Note that Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_{kj}} is positive if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_k > E_j} , i.e. for absoprtion, and negative if $E_{k}<E_{j}$ Then, Eq. \ref{EQ_atomoef10} becomes

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d_z (t) = \sum_{k} f_{kg} \frac{e^2}{m(\omega_{kg}^2 - \omega^2 )} \mathcal{E} \cos \omega t }

Comparing this with Eq. \ref{EQ_ostre2}, we see that the behavior of an atom in an oscillating field mimics a set of classical oscillators with the same frequencies as the eigenfrequencies of the atom, but having effective charge strengths Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle q_k^2 = f_{kg} e^2} .

The oscillator strength is useful for characterizing radiative interactions and also the susceptibiltiy of atoms for three reasons:

(1) It emphasizes the classical correspondence

(2) It satisfies a sum rule

(3) It provides a dimensionless parameter characterizing the coupling of the atom to the external field

The oscillator strength satisfies the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule:

$\sum _{k}f_{kg}=1$

The proof is often presented in quantum mechanics classes. Since it is short, we repeat it here.

We prove by considering the general Hamiltonian

{EQ_ostre6}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H= \frac{1}{2} \sum_{j} p_j^2 + V(r_1 , r_2 \cdots ) . }

Using the commutator relation

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle [A,B^2] = [A,B] B+ B [A,B], }

and the relation Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle [r_j , p_k] = i\hbar\delta_{jk}} , we have

$[r,H]={\frac {i\hbar }{m}}p$

where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle r = \sum r_j} , and Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle p = \sum p_j} . However,

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \langle j | [r, H] |k \rangle = (E_k - E_n ) \langle j | r | k \rangle }

Consequently,

$\langle j|r|k\rangle ={\frac {i}{m}}{\frac {\langle j|p|k\rangle }{\omega _{kj}}}$

where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega_{kj} = (E_k - E_j )/\hbar} . Thus, we can write Eq. \ref{EQ_ostre3} in either of two forms:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_{kj} = \frac{2i}{\hbar} \langle j | p_z |k \rangle \langle |k|z|j \rangle = - \frac{2i}{\hbar} \langle k | p_z |j \rangle \langle |j|z|k \rangle }

Taking half the sum of these equations and using the closure relation $\sum _{k}|k\rangle \langle k|=1$, we have

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sum_{k} f_{kj} = \frac{i}{\hbar} {\left[ \langle j |p_z z - z p_z | j \rangle \right]} = 1 }

We have calculated this for a one-electron atom, but the application to a Z-electron atom is straightforward because the Hamiltonian in Eq. \ref{EQ_ostre6} is quite general. In this case

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sum_{k} f_{kj} = Z . }

Here $j$ is some eigenstate of the system, and the index Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k} describes all the eigenstates of all the electrons -- including continuum states. In cases where only a single electron will be excited, however, for instance in the optical regime of a "single-electron" atom where the inner core electrons are essentially unaffected by the radiation, the atom behaves as if it were a single electron system with Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle Z=1} .

Note that $f_{kj}$ is positive if Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \omega_{kj} > 0} , i.e. if the final state lies above the initial state. Such a transition corresponds to absorption of a photon. Since Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f_{jk} = -f_{kj}} , the oscillator strength for emission of a photon is negative.

For hydrogen, the 1s $\rightarrow$ 2p transition has an oscillator strength of 0.4162. Often, assuming Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f \approx 1} for the strongest transition gives a good order of magnitude approximation.

For the alkalis, the D line has an oscillator strength of close to 1. Therefore, knowledge of the resonance frequency is sufficient to calculate Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \alpha} and also the natural linewidth $\Gamma$.

The matrix element can be expressed by the oscillator strength using Eq. \ref{EQ_ostre3}:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle | \langle k|z|j \rangle |^2 = f_{kj}\frac{\hbar}{2m} \omega_{kj} = f_{kj} \frac{1}{2} \bar{\lambda}_{compton}\bar{\lambda} }

which implies that for a strong transition, the matrix element is the geometric mean of Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \bar{\lambda}_{compton}} and ${\bar {\lambda }}$.

Index of refraction

As an application of the expression for the ac polarizability, we now discuss the index of refraction of an atomic gas. What we derive here, is fully sufficient to understand both absorption imaging and phase-contrast imaging used to observe ultracold atomic clouds.

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n_r = \sqrt{1 + 4 \pi n_{at} \alpha} \approx 1 + 2 \pi n_{at} \alpha }

In the case of near resonant light we can neglect the counter-rotating term, and let $\delta =\omega -\omega _{kg}$

$\alpha =-{\frac {e^{2}}{\hbar }}|\langle k|z|g\rangle |^{2}{\frac {1}{\delta }}$

Define the natural linewidth (this expression is derived later in the course)

$\Gamma ={\frac {4}{3}}{\frac {\omega ^{3}e^{2}}{\hbar c^{3}}}|\langle k|z|g\rangle |^{2}$

So we can rewrite the expression for the refractive index:

$n_{r}\approx 1-2\pi n_{at}{\frac {3\Gamma }{4}}{\frac {c^{3}}{w^{3}}}{\frac {1}{\delta }}$

$=1-n_{at}\sigma _{0}{\frac {\lambda }{4\pi }}{\frac {\Gamma }{2\delta }}$

where, since

${\frac {c^{3}}{\omega ^{3}}}={\frac {\lambda ^{3}}{(2\pi )^{3}}}$

we have

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sigma_0 \equiv 6\pi\bigg(\frac{\lambda}{2\pi}\bigg)^2 }

In our derivation of the polarizability, we didn't include any damping. The effect of damping is to give the refractive index an imaginary (absorptive) part. Damping can be included by adding an imaginary part to the detuning Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \delta} :

$\delta \rightarrow \delta +i{\frac {\gamma }{2}}$

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \delta' = \delta/(\gamma/2) }

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\frac{\Gamma}{2\delta}\rightarrow \frac{\Gamma}{\gamma}\bigg(\frac{-1}{\delta'+i}\bigg)=\frac{\Gamma}{\gamma}\bigg[\frac{i}{1+\delta'^2}-\frac{\delta'}{1+\delta'^2}\bigg] }

where the first term in brackets corresponds to dispersion and the second to absorption. This become obvious when one propagates the wave with the wavevector modified by the index of refraction:

$e^{ikz}=e^{in_{r}{\frac {\omega }{c}}z}=e^{-{\frac {D_{0}}{2}}[{\frac {1}{1+\delta '^{2}}}-{\frac {i\delta '}{1+\delta '^{2}}}]}$

The optical density on resonance is:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle D_0 = n_{at}\sigma_0 \frac{\Gamma}{\gamma}z }

Note: When the linewidth is determined by spontaneous emission then Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \gamma = \Gamma} , and the dispersive phase shift is

$\phi =-{\frac {D_{0}}{2}}{\frac {\delta '}{1+\delta '^{2}}}.$

The maximum phase shift occurs at a detuning of Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \delta' = \pm 1}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \phi = \mp \frac{D_0}{4} }