J.G. Zeibel and R.R. Jones
Abstract:Transient electric-field pulses have been used to stimulate electron/ion recombination in a low density plasma in the presence of a static electric field. The measured recombination rates exhibit a strong dependence on the relative orientation of the pulsed and static fields. For weak pulses, the recombination rate is significantly higher for orthogonal as opposed to parallel or anti-parallel field configurations. The enhanced recombination rate is attributed to the dynamic stabilization of high-m Rydberg levels that are populated during the pulse. Classical simulations confirm the importance of angular momentum rather than energy transfer.
Status: Published Phys. Rev. Lett 89, 093204 (2002).
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