Probing Rydberg atoms through collisions with helium in the presence of static electric and magnetic fields

Abstract

We report on field induced inelasticity effects in state-to-state transitions caused by collisions of helium with Rydberg atoms in the presence of parallel static electric and magnetic fields. Due to the phases accumulated by the wavefunctions of the states involved into the collision events, the transition cross sections plotted as a function of the external fields exhibit modulations. When the relative velocity of the colliding atoms is high enough, these modulations are wiped out, while sizable modifications of the cross sections may take place due to the alteration of the wavefunctions' spatial localization. The possibility of using the field-assisted collisions as a probe giving information on localization of the Rydberg states is discussed.