Abstract
We consider the excitation dynamics of the two-photon 1S - 2S transition in a beam of atomic hydrogen by 243 nm laser radiation. Specifically, we study the impact of ionization damping on the transition line shape, caused by the possibility of ionization of the 2S level by the same laser field. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we calculate the line shape of the 1S - 2S transition for the experimental geometry used in the two latest absolute frequency measurements [M. Niering, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5496 (2000) and M. Fischer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 230802 (2004)]. The calculated line shift and linewidth are in excellent agreement with the experimentally observed values. From this comparison we can verify the values of the dynamic Stark shift coefficient for the 1S - 2S transition for the first time on a level of 15%. We show that the ionization modifies the velocity distribution of the metastable atoms, the line shape of the 1S - 2S transition, and has an influence on the derivation of its absolute frequency.
Recommended Citation
N. N. Kolachevsky and M. K. Haas and U. D. Jentschura and M. Herrmann and P. Fendel and M. P. Fischer and R. Holzwarth and T. H. Udem and C. H. Keitel and T. W. Hansch, "Photoionization Broadening of the 1S-2S Transition in a Beam of Atomic Hydrogen," Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, vol. 74, no. 5, pp. 052504-1 - 052504-9, American Physical Society (APS), Jan 2006.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.052504
Department(s)
Physics
Keywords and Phrases
Computer Simulation; Hydrogen; Monte Carlo Methods; Photoionization; Photons; Atomic Hydrogen; Ionization Damping; Laser Radiation; Transition Line; Atomic Physics
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1050-2947
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2006 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2006
