Two-dimensional momentum imaging of Rydberg states using half-cycle pulse ionization and velocity map imaging

Abstract

The influence of the half-cycle pulse (HCP) kick on the asymptotic velocity of the ejected electron has been studied for excited xenon atoms (n{sup *}=34) in the presence of a static electric field (220 V cm{sup -1}). We find that the HCP does not change the momentum distribution perpendicular to the kick direction. Therefore half-cycle pulse ionization and electron velocity map imaging can be used to obtain two-dimensional momentum distributions of atomic Rydberg states. Semiclassical and quantum mechanical calculations complement the experimental results.