A study of Stark effects of Rydberg p states of noble gas atoms

We have studied the Stark effect for Rydberg p states of noble gas atoms using laser optogalvanic spectroscopy. The measurements were performed in the sheath region of noble gas glow discharges. Laser excitation from metastable states to np states was monitored by optogalvanic spectroscopy. Clear Stark shifts were obsd. and the exptl. results were compared with a theor. calcn. based on solving the Schroedinger equation of noble gas atoms in an elec. field. There was good agreement between the calcn. results and the exptl. results. The anal. shows that the Stark shift of np states of noble gas atoms can be used for elec. field measurements. This method can be a useful alternative to elec. field methods based on excitation to nf states because of the higher transition probability of np states. [on SciFinder (R)]