Work function for surfaces of Rydberg matter: a jellium approach

Abstract

The theoretical description of Rydberg matter as an electronically excited type of matter and the subsequent calculations of properties like work function for Rydberg matter of Cs was given by Manykin et al. (1981–1992). Their work function values were less than 0.1 eV at principal quantum numbers n > 15. Experimental studies of Rydberg matter of Cs with n approximately equal to 15 gave work functions less than 0.7 eV. We have now derived approximate values of the work function for Rydberg matter from the jellium theory, at 0.3 eV for n = 15, which are intermediate between the more exact theory due to Manykin et al. and the experiments. This shows that the low work functions is to a large extent due to the large interatomic distances in Rydberg matter.