Resonant Coherent Excitation of Hydrogen-Like Ar Ions to the n = 3 States

Abstract

We have succeeded in observing resonant coherent excitaion (RCE) of 1s electrons to the n = 3 states in 390 MeV/u hydrogen-like Ar17+ ions planar channeled in a silicon crystal through measurements of the charge-state distribution of ions transmitting the crystal. Furthermore, we directly confirmed RCE to the n = 3 states by observing the enhancement of the de-excitation X-rays, i.e., Kβ X-rays under the resonance condition. The resonance profiles of the charge-state distribution as functions of the incident angle to the crystal, which uniquely relates with the transition energy, have a characteristic structure consisting of several peaks. Compared with the profile of RCE to the n = 2 states, the present profiles show a large peak shift from the j = 1/2 and 3/2 levels in vacuum, and the profiles are much wider than those expected from the Stark-split level structure of the n = 3 manifolds due to the position- (distance from the channel center in the planar channel) dependent strong static field in the crystal.