Scaling of radiative collisions between Rydberg atoms.

Abstract

We have measured the n dependence of the microwave field required to make the single-photon radiatively assisted collision process Na(ns)+Na(ns)+kh\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(np)+Na ((n-1)p)+(k+m)h\ensuremath{\nu}, m=1, 10% as likely as the resonant collision process in which no photons are absorbed, m=0. Experimentally we find an ${n}^{\mathrm{*}}$ dependence of [2.06(15)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$]${n}^{\mathrm{*}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2.0}$ (V/cm), where ${n}^{\mathrm{*}}$ is the effective quantum number of the Na ns state. Over the range of n studied, 16\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}24, this field is within 20% of the field calculated using a theory based on resonant dipole-dipole collisional energy transfer of microwave dressed atoms.