Influence of electric fields on background photo- and collisional ionization processes in Rydberg-atom collision studies
نویسندگان
چکیده
Studies of Rydberg atom collision processes, especially those with small reaction rate constants, are frequently complicated by spurious background signals associated with photoionization by thermal blackbody radiation and with ionization resulting from collisions with background gas. Here we demonstrate that the magnitude and relative importance of the signals that result from these processes are strongly influenced by the presence of an applied electric field. Possible causes of this dependence are discussed.
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