Rydberg States Of Atomic Hydrogen Research Articles

Circular Rydberg States of Atomic Hydrogen in an Arbitrary Magnetic Field

We report a theoretical scheme using a B-spline basis set to improve the poor computational accuracy of circular Rydberg states of hydrogen atoms in the intermediate magnetic field. This scheme can produce high accuracy energy levels and valid for an arbitrary magnetic field. Energy levels of hydrogen are presented for circular Rydberg states with azimuthal quantum numbers |m| = 10–70 as a function of magnetic field strengths ranging from zero to 2.35 × 109 T. The variation of spatial distributions of electron probability densities with magnetic field strengths is discussed and competition between Coulomb and magnetic interactions is illustrated.

Thermally Reversible Hydrino Catalyst Systems as a New Power Source

Energy balances were measured for representative thermally regenerative reactions of four classes of hydrino catalyst systems, each capable of resonantly accepting m × 27.2 eV from H to form H(1/p), Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen called “hydrino atoms” wherein n = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4,…, 1/p (p ≤ 137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n = integer in the Rydberg equation for the excited states of hydrogen. Specifically, hydride–halide exchange reactions were tested where K and NaH served as catalysts since they form K3+ and Na2+ ions by absorbing 3 × 27.2 eV and 2 × 27.2 eV, respectively. Typical parameters measured by absolute water-flow calorimetry were two to five times energy gain relative to regeneration chemistry and 7 W/cm3. The predicted molecular hydrino and hydrino hydride products H2(1/4) and H−(1/4) corresponding to 50 MJ/mole H2 consumed were confirmed by the solution 1H NMR peak at 1.2 ppm and XPS peak at 11 eV, respectively.

Hydrino continuum transitions with cutoffs at 22.8 nm and 10.1 nm

Classical physical laws predict that atomic hydrogen may undergo a catalytic reaction with certain species, including itself, that can accept energy in integer multiples of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, m·27.2 eV, wherein m is an integer. The predicted reaction involves a resonant, nonradiative energy transfer from otherwise stable atomic hydrogen to the catalyst capable of accepting the energy. The product is H(1/ p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen called “hydrino atoms,” wherein n = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4,…, 1/ p ( p ≤ 137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n = integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. Each hydrino state also comprises an electron, a proton, and a photon, but the field contribution from the photon increases the binding rather than decreasing it corresponding to energy desorption rather than absorption. Since the potential energy of atomic hydrogen is 27.2 eV, two H atoms formed from H 2 by collision with a third, hot H can act as a catalyst for this third H by accepting 2·27.2 eV from it. By the same mechanism, the collision of two hot H 2 provide 3H to serve as a catalyst of 3·27.2 eV for the fourth. Following the energy transfer to the catalyst an intermediate is formed having the radius of the H atom and a central field of 3 and 4 times the central field of a proton, respectively, due to the contribution of the photon of each intermediate. The radius is predicted to decrease as the electron undergoes radial acceleration to a stable state having a radius that is 1/3 ( m = 2) or 1/4 ( m = 3) the radius of the uncatalyzed hydrogen atom with the further release of 54.4 eV and 122.4 eV of energy, respectively. This energy emitted as a characteristic EUV continuum with a cutoff at 22.8 nm and 10.1 nm, respectively, was observed from pulsed hydrogen discharges. The continua spectra directly and indirectly match significant celestial observations.

Spectroscopic observation of helium-ion- and hydrogen-catalyzed hydrino transitions

Abstract Four predictions of Mills’ Grand Unified Theory of Classical Physics (GUTCP) regarding atomic hydrogen undergoing a catalytic reaction with certain atomized elements and ions which resonantly, nonradiatively accept integer multiples of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, m · 27.2 eV wherein m is an integer, have been confirmed experimentally. Specifically, a catalyst comprises a chemical or physical process with an enthalpy change equal to an integer multiple m of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. For He+ m = 2, due to its ionization reaction to He2+, and two H atoms formed from H2 by collision with a third, hot H can also act as a catalyst with m = 2 for this third H. The product is H(1/p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen called “hydrino atoms” wherein n = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, …, 1/p(p≤137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n = integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. The predictions for the hydrino reaction of (1) pumping of the catalyst excited states, (2) characteristic EUV continuum radiation, (3) fast H, and (4) hydrino products were observed in multiple catalyst-hydrogen plasma systems.

Commercializable power source from forming new states of hydrogen

Commercializable power source from forming new states of hydrogen

Comprehensive identification and potential applications of new states of hydrogen

The data from a broad spectrum of investigational techniques strongly and consistently indicate that hydrogen can exist in lower-energy states then previously thought possible. Novel emission lines with energies of q·13.6eV where q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11 were previously observed by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy recorded on microwave discharges of helium with 2% hydrogen [Mills RL, Ray P. Extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy of helium-hydrogen plasma. J Phys D 2003;36:1535–42]. These lines matched H(1/p)H(1/p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen wherein n=12,13,14,…,1p; (p⩽137p⩽137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n=integern=integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. Evidence supports that these states are formed by a resonant nonradiative energy transfer to He+He+ acting as a catalyst. Ar+Ar+ and K also serve as catalysts since, like He+He+, they meet the catalyst criterion—a chemical or physical process with an enthalpy change equal to an integer multiple of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. Two H(1/p)H(1/p) may react to form H2(1/p)H2(1/p) that have vibrational and rotational energies that are p2p2 times those of H2H2 comprising uncatalyzed atomic hydrogen. Rotational lines were observed in the 145–300 nm region from atmospheric pressure electron-beam excited argon–hydrogen plasmas. The unprecedented energy spacing of 4242 times that of hydrogen established the internuclear distance as 14 that of H2H2 and identified H2(14). The predicted products of alkali catalyst K are H-(14) which form a novel alkali halido hydride compound (MH*X) and H2(14) which may be trapped in the crystal. The 1H MAS NMR spectrum of novel compound KH*ClKH*Cl relative to external tetramethylsilane (TMS) showed a large distinct upfield resonance at -4.4ppm corresponding to an absolute resonance shift of -35.9ppm that matched the theoretical prediction of H-(1/p)H-(1/p) with p=4p=4. The predicted catalyst reactions, position of the upfield-shifted NMR peaks for H-(14), and spectroscopic data for H-(14) were found to be in agreement with the experimental observations as well as previously reported analysis of KH*ClKH*Cl containing this hydride ion. The predicted frequencies of ortho- and para-H2(14) were observed at 1943 and 2012cm-1 in the high resolution FTIR spectrum of KH*IKH*I having a -4.6ppm NMR peak assigned to H-(14). The 1943/2012cm-1-intensity ratio matched the characteristic ortho-to-para-peak-intensity ratio of 3:1, and the ortho–para splitting of 69cm-1 matched that predicted. KH*ClKH*Cl having H-(14) by NMR was incident to the 12.5 keV electron-beam which excited similar emission of interstitial H2(14) as observed in the argon–hydrogen plasma. H2(1/p)H2(1/p) gas was isolated by liquefaction of plasma gas at liquid nitrogen temperature and by decomposition of compounds (MH*X)(MH*X) found to contain the corresponding hydride ions H-(1/p)H-(1/p). The H2(1/p)H2(1/p) gas was dissolved in CDCl3CDCl3 and characterized by 1H NMR. Considering solvent effects, singlet peak upfields of H2H2 were observed with a predicted integer spacing of 0.64 ppm at 3.47, 3.02, 2.18, 1.25, 0.85, and 0.22 ppm which matched the consecutive series H2(12), H2(13), H2(14), H2(15), H2(16), and H2(17), respectively. Excess power was absolutely measured from the helium–hydrogen plasma. For an input of 41.9 W, the total plasma power of the helium–hydrogen plasma measured by water bath calorimetry was 62.1 W corresponding to 20.2 W of excess power in 3cm3 plasma volume. The excess power density and energy balance were high, 6.7W/cm3 and -5.4×104kJ/moleH2(280eV/Hatom), respectively. In addition to power applications, battery and propellant reactions are proposed that may be transformational, and observed excited vibration–rotational levels of H2(14) could be the basis of a UV laser that could significantly advance photolithography.

Catalysis of atomic hydrogen to novel hydrogen species [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] as a new power source

The data from a broad spectrum of investigational techniques strongly and consistently indicate that hydrogen can exist in lower-energy states than previously thought possible. The predicted reaction involves a resonant, nonradiative energy transfer from otherwise stable atomic hydrogen to a catalyst capable of accepting the energy. The product is H ( 1 / p ) , fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen wherein n = 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 4 , … , 1 / p ( p ⩽ 137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n = integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. He + , Ar + , and K are predicted to serve as catalysts since they meet the catalyst criterion—a chemical or physical process with an enthalpy change equal to an integer multiple of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. Specific predictions based on closed-form equations for energy levels were tested. For example, two H ( 1 / p ) may react to form H 2 ( 1 / p ) that have vibrational and rotational energies that are p 2 times those of H 2 comprising uncatalyzed atomic hydrogen. Rotational lines were observed in the 145–300 nm region from atmospheric pressure electron-beam-excited argon–hydrogen plasmas. The unprecedented energy spacing of 4 2 times that of hydrogen established the internuclear distance as 1 4 that of H 2 and identified H 2 ( 1 / 4 ) . The predicted products of alkali catalyst K are H - ( 1 / 4 ) which form KH * X , a novel alkali halido (X) hydride compound, and H 2 ( 1 / 4 ) which may be trapped in the crystal. The 1H MAS NMR spectrum of novel compound KH * Cl relative to external tetramethylsilane (TMS) showed a large distinct upfield resonance at - 4.4 ppm corresponding to an absolute resonance shift of - 35.9 ppm that matched the theoretical prediction of H(1/4) with p = 4 . The predicted frequencies of ortho- and para- H 2 ( 1 / 4 ) were observed at 1943 and 2012 cm - 1 in the high-resolution FTIR spectrum of KH * I having a - 4.6 ppm NMR peak assigned to H - ( 1 / 4 ) . The 1943 / 2012 cm - 1 -intensity ratio matched the characteristic ortho-to-para-peak-intensity ratio of 3:1, and the ortho–para splitting of 69 cm - 1 matched that predicted. KH * Cl having H - ( 1 / 4 ) by NMR was incident to the 12.5 keV electron beam which excited similar emission of interstitial H 2 ( 1 / 4 ) as observed in the argon–hydrogen plasma. KNO 3 and Raney nickel were used as a source of K catalyst and atomic hydrogen, respectively, to produce the corresponding exothermic reaction. The energy balance was Δ H = - 17 925 kcal/mol KNO 3 , about 300 times that expected for the most energetic known chemistry of KNO 3, and - 3585 kcal/mol H 2 , over 60 times the hypothetical maximum enthalpy of - 57.8 kcal/mol H 2 due to combustion of hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen, assuming the maximum possible H 2 inventory. The reduction of KNO 3 to water, potassium metal, and NH 3 calculated from the heats of formation only releases - 14.2 kcal/mol H 2 which cannot account for the observed heat; nor can hydrogen combustion. But, the results are consistent with the formation of H - ( 1 / 4 ) and H 2 ( 1 / 4 ) having enthalpies of formation of over 100 times that of combustion.

Two-photon transitions to Rydberg states of hydrogen

Two-photon transitions from the ground state (and the metastable 2s state) to the Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen are studied. We calculate the transition amplitudes as a function of the frequency of one of the incident photons using the efficient pseudostate summation technique. Numerical data is presented for comparison with future experiments.

Synthesis and characterization of a highly stable amorphous silicon hydride as the product of a catalytic helium–hydrogen plasma reaction

A novel highly stable surface coating SiH(1/ p) which comprised high-binding-energy hydride ions was synthesized by a microwave plasma reaction of a mixture of silane, hydrogen, and helium wherein it is proposed that He + served as a catalyst with atomic hydrogen to form the highly stable hydride ions. Novel silicon hydride was identified by time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The ToF-SIMS identified the coatings as hydride by the large SiH + peak in the positive spectrum and the dominant H − in the negative spectrum. XPS identified the H content of the SiH coatings as hydride ions, H −(1/4), H −(1/9) , and H −(1/11) corresponding to peaks at 11, 43, and 55 eV , respectively. The silicon hydride surface was remarkably stable to air as shown by XPS. The highly stable amorphous silicon hydride coating may advance the production of integrated circuits and microdevices by resisting the oxygen passivation of the surface and possibly altering the dielectric constant and band gap to increase device performance. The plasma which formed SiH(1/ p) showed a number of extraordinary features. Novel emission lines with energies of q·13.6 eV where q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9, or 11 were previously observed by extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy recorded on microwave discharges of helium with 2% hydrogen (Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 27 (3) 301–322). These lines matched H(1/ p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen where p is an integer, formed by a resonant nonradiative energy transfer to He + acting as a catalyst. The average hydrogen atom temperature of the helium–hydrogen plasma was measured to be 180– 210 eV versus ≈3 eV for pure hydrogen. Using water bath calorimetry, excess power was observed from the helium–hydrogen plasma compared to control krypton plasma. For example, for an input of 8.1 W , the total plasma power of the helium–hydrogen plasma measured by water bath calorimetry was 30.0 W corresponding to 21.9 W of excess power in 3 cm 3 . The excess power density and energy balance were high, 7.3 W/cm 3 and −2.9×10 4 kJ/mol H 2 , respectively. This catalytic plasma reaction may represent a new hydrogen energy source and a new field of hydrogen chemistry.

Spectral emission of fractional-principal-quantum-energy-level atomic and molecular hydrogen

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy was recorded on microwave discharges of helium with 2% hydrogen. Novel emission lines were observed with energies of q×13.6 eV where q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11 or these discrete energies less 21.2 eV corresponding to inelastic scattering of these photons by helium atoms due to excitation of He (1s 2) to He (1s 12p 1). These lines matched H(1/ p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen, formed by a resonant nonradiative energy transfer to He +. Corresponding emission due to the reaction 2H(1/2)→H 2(1/2) with vibronic coupling at E D+ vib =p 2E D H 2 ±(υ ∗/3)E vib H 2(υ=0→υ=1) , υ ∗=1,2,3,… was observed at the longer wavelengths for υ ∗=2 to υ ∗=32 and at the shorter wavelengths for υ ∗=1 to υ ∗=16 where E D H 2 and E vib H 2(υ=0→υ=1) are the experimental bond and vibrational energies of H 2, respectively. Similar emission due to Ne + with hydrogen was also observed, and the exothermic reaction was confirmed by the observation of 306±5 W of excess power generated in 45 cm 3 by a compound-hollow-cathode-glow discharge of a neon–hydrogen (99%/1%) mixture corresponding to a power density of 6.8 MW/m 3 and an energy balance of about −5×10 5 kJ/(mol H 2) compared to the enthalpy of combustion of hydrogen of −241.8 kJ/(mol H 2).

Spectroscopic identification of transitions of fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen

Spectroscopic identification of transitions of fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen

Chaotic Ionization of Nonhydrogenic Alkali Rydberg States

We report the first ab initio quantum treatment of microwave driven alkali Rydberg states. We find that nonhydrogenic atomic initial states exhibit fingerprints of classically chaotic excitation, and identify the cause of their experimentally observed enhanced ionization, as compared to Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen.

Chaotic Rydberg Atoms with Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry

The dynamics of Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen perturbed simultaneously by a static electric field and a resonant microwave field of elliptical polarization is analyzed in the quantum perturbative limit of small amplitudes. For some configurations, the secular motion (i.e., evolution in time of the elliptical electronic trajectory) may be classically predominantly chaotic. By changing the orientation of the static field with respect to the polarization of the microwave field, one can modify the global symmetries of the system and break any generalized time-reversal invariance. This has a dramatic effect on the statistical properties of the energy levels.

Resonant dynamics of the H atom in an elliptically polarized microwave field

The dynamics of Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen driven by elliptically polarized microwaves of frequency fulfilling the 2:1 classical resonance condition is investigated both semiclassically and quantum mechanically in a simplified two-dimensional model of an atom. Semiclassical results for quasienergies of the system are shown to be in good agreement with exact quantum data. The structures of the quantum states are found to reflect the underlying classical dynamics; especially we show the existence of nonspreading wave packets propagating on elliptical trajectories.

Quasiclassical dynamics of resonantly driven Rydberg states

We present a semiclassical analysis of the dynamics of Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen driven by a resonant microwave field of linear polarization. The semiclassical quasienergies of the atom in the field are found to be in very good agreement with the exact quantum solutions. The ionization rates of individual eigenstates of the atom dressed by the field reflect their quasiclassical dynamics along classical periodic orbits in the near integrable regime, but exhibit a transition to nonspecific rates when global chaos takes over in phase space. We concentrate both on the principal resonance where the unperturbed Kepler frequency \(\)is equal to the driving field frequency \(\) and on the higher primary resonance \(\) The latter case allows for the construction of nondispersive wave packets which propagate along Kepler ellipses of intermediate eccentricity.

Sensitive Electric Field Measurement by Fluorescence-Dip Spectroscopy of Rydberg States of Atomic Hydrogen

Fluorescence-dip spectroscopy based on an optical double resonance is used to probe the Stark splitting in highly excited Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen. After Doppler-free two-photon excitation to $n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}3$, fluorescence at Balmer $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is observed. When the radiation of a second laser is tuned over the resonance between $n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}3$ and a Rydberg state, the Stark splitting manifests itself as a series of dips in the Balmer- $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ fluorescence intensity. Rydberg states up to $n\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}55$ can be identified. The minimum detectable electric field is $5\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{cm}$. This is about an order of magnitude more sensitive than other laser-induced fluorescence techniques.

H atom in elliptically polarized microwaves: Semiclassical versus quantum resonant dynamics

The dynamics of Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen illuminated by resonant elliptically polarized microwaves is investigated both semiclassically and quantum mechanically in a simplified two-dimensional model of an atom. Semiclassical predictions for quasienergies of the system are found to be in very good agreement with exact quantum data enabling a classification of possible types of motion and their dynamics with the change of the ellipticity of the microwaves. Particular attention is paid to the dynamics of the nonspreading wave packet states, which are found to exist for an arbitrary microwave polarization.

Secular motion of three-dimensional Rydberg states in a microwave field

We study the spectral properties of three-dimensional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen in a microwave field of linear polarization. We identify a novel structure in the Floquet spectrum as the ``backbone'' of the experimentally observed ionization process. Localization properties, energies, and lifetimes of the individual Floquet states are shown to faithfully reflect the structure of classical phase space, which can be described by a perturbative approach.

Interaction of half-cycle radiation pulse with Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen.

We describe the results of our solutions of the time-dependent Schr\odinger equation for Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen exposed to a short pulse of ``half-cycle'' long-wavelength radiation. By ``short'' we mean that the duration of the pulse is much less than the Kepler period of the Rydberg state being irradiated. Comparison is made with the results of experiments which have been reported recently [R. Jones, D. You, and P. Bucksbaum, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 1236 (1993)].

Stabilization of Rydberg atoms in superintense laser fields.

We investigate numerically the stabilization of Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen in superintense laser light. No stabilization could be observed at frequencies comparable with the Rydberg energies. We show that the stabilization observed at higher frequencies is governed by the spreading and decrease of the coupling potentials at high intensities rather than by a reduction of the wave-function amplitude in the interaction region.