U.S.-Italy Cooperative Research: Reactive Collisions of Rydberg Atoms

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This award will support Professor Jacob Leventhal of the University of Missouri at St. Louis in a research collaboration with Professors M. Allegrini and E. Arimondo of the University of Pisa, Italy. The purpose of the collaboration is to study the interaction of highly excited atoms in order to better understand atomic properties at the boundary between classical and quantum mechanics. The work, which represents a continuation of collaborative work starting in the early 80's, is producing significant research in atomic interactions. The proposed experiments will combine the infrared expertise of the Italian group with techniques developed in St. Louis for the production of highly excited atoms. Fundamental to the experimental set-up is the fact that highly excited atoms, by virtue of their sensitivity and exaggerated responses, provide useful amplification of atomic properties making it feasible to study effects that would otherwise be difficult to observe.