Wave-function visualization of core-induced interaction of a non-hydrogenic Rydberg atom in an electric field

Abstract

In this paper we report a wave-function visualization of the core-induced interaction of a non-hydrogenic Rydberg atom in an electric field and its resultant redistribution of the spectral line intensities. The energy levels and oscillator strengths are calculated based on an effective potential where the radial part of the wavefunction is expanded in a B-spline basis. The calculation is in good agreement with the experimental measurements of the absorption spectrum of sodium atoms in an electric field of F = 840 V/cm, both below and above the saddle point Esp. The visualization of the wavefunction for the eigenstates can help us to see how they stem from the interaction between two or more red and blue hydrogenic states. An approximate localized symmetry close to the atomic core is also observed in the wavefunctions, which accounts for the alternation of oscillator strengths in the experiment.