Abstract

Rydberg wave packets have been the object of intense experimental and theoretical study over the past decade due to their many interesting semiclassical and quantum characteristics. Long-lived wave packets have been created in both hydrogen and alkali metal atoms, and localization in both the radial and angular dimension has been demonstrated [1]. It is also possible to apply the methods of quantum control to calculate optimally shaped laser pulses which create Rydberg wave packets that have a desired distribution in phase space at a specified “target” time [2]. This can take the form of, for instance, a “Schrödinger cat” state in which an electron is localized in several distinct regions of space simultaneously.

© 1997 Optical Society of America