58
A. V. Glushkov et al.
n till 165, but there is still a significant deviation of the data of the quasiclassical
calculation from the experiment (see Fig. 2a).
The most adequate explanation for this important fact was correctly provided by
Beterov et al. in the Refs. [1, 2]. The corresponding deviation of the quasiclassical
theory from the experiment is provided by the over-importance value of exchangecorrelation corrections, in particular, for nS states. In fact, for nS states there is a
certain anomaly, since the orbitals for the desired states deep enough penetrate into
the atomic core, which causes a very strong interaction with it. An additional factor is
the known circumstance, namely, the quantum defects for these states are quite large,
while for the nD states of the sodium atom the picture is fundamentally different. In
our theory, the corresponding effects are rather thoroughly and correctly taken into
account, therefore, the theory yields results in physically reasonable agreement with
available experiment.
To conclude, we presented a consistent relativistic quantum approach to determination of the elementary atomic processes parameters of the Rydberg atomic
systems in a Black-body radiation field. The approach is based on an advanced relativistic energy approach and formalism of the relativistic many-body perturbation
theory with the zeroth density functional approximation. The important features of
our approach are connected with an accurate treatment of the complex exchangecorrelation effects (interelectron polarization interaction through the Fermi sea, continuum pressure, the non-Coulomb grouping of levels in the heavy Rydberg spectra
etc.) and application of the optimized bases of relativistic wave functions, and correspondingly. We listed some results of calculation of the spectroscopic characteristics
(ionization rate, effective lifetime values etc.) for the sodium Rydberg atom in a
Black-body radiation field for different states and temperatures and compared the
obtained data with available experimental and alternative theoretical results.
Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the Chair of QSCP-XXIII, Prof. Liliana Mammino, and the Cochair Prof. Jean Maruani, for their generous invitation to present this work in the
Proceedings of the XXIII International workshop on Quantum Systems in Chemistry, Physics and
Biology.
References
1. Beterov II, Tretyakov DV, Ryabtsev II et al (2009) Ionization of Rydberg atoms by blackbody
radiation. New J Phys 11:013052
2. Beterov II, Ryabtsev II, Tretyakov DB, Entin VM (2009) Quasiclassical calculations of
blackbody-radiation-induced depopulation rates and effective lifetimes of Rydberg nS, nP,
and nD alkali-metal atoms with n ~ 80. Phys Rev A 79:052504
3. Spencer WP, Vaidyanathan AG, Kleppner D, Ducas TW (1982) Photoionization by blackbody
radiation. Phys Rev A 26:1490–1493
4. Burkhardt CE, Corey RL, Garver WP, Leventhal JJ, Allegrini M, Moi L (1986) Ionization of
Rydberg atoms. Phys Rev A 34:80–88
5. Lehman GW (1983) Rate of ionisation of H and Na Rydberg atoms by black-body radiation.
J Phys B: At Mol Phys 16:2145
A. V. Glushkov et al.
n till 165, but there is still a significant deviation of the data of the quasiclassical
calculation from the experiment (see Fig. 2a).
The most adequate explanation for this important fact was correctly provided by
Beterov et al. in the Refs. [1, 2]. The corresponding deviation of the quasiclassical
theory from the experiment is provided by the over-importance value of exchangecorrelation corrections, in particular, for nS states. In fact, for nS states there is a
certain anomaly, since the orbitals for the desired states deep enough penetrate into
the atomic core, which causes a very strong interaction with it. An additional factor is
the known circumstance, namely, the quantum defects for these states are quite large,
while for the nD states of the sodium atom the picture is fundamentally different. In
our theory, the corresponding effects are rather thoroughly and correctly taken into
account, therefore, the theory yields results in physically reasonable agreement with
available experiment.
To conclude, we presented a consistent relativistic quantum approach to determination of the elementary atomic processes parameters of the Rydberg atomic
systems in a Black-body radiation field. The approach is based on an advanced relativistic energy approach and formalism of the relativistic many-body perturbation
theory with the zeroth density functional approximation. The important features of
our approach are connected with an accurate treatment of the complex exchangecorrelation effects (interelectron polarization interaction through the Fermi sea, continuum pressure, the non-Coulomb grouping of levels in the heavy Rydberg spectra
etc.) and application of the optimized bases of relativistic wave functions, and correspondingly. We listed some results of calculation of the spectroscopic characteristics
(ionization rate, effective lifetime values etc.) for the sodium Rydberg atom in a
Black-body radiation field for different states and temperatures and compared the
obtained data with available experimental and alternative theoretical results.
Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the Chair of QSCP-XXIII, Prof. Liliana Mammino, and the Cochair Prof. Jean Maruani, for their generous invitation to present this work in the
Proceedings of the XXIII International workshop on Quantum Systems in Chemistry, Physics and
Biology.
References
1. Beterov II, Tretyakov DV, Ryabtsev II et al (2009) Ionization of Rydberg atoms by blackbody
radiation. New J Phys 11:013052
2. Beterov II, Ryabtsev II, Tretyakov DB, Entin VM (2009) Quasiclassical calculations of
blackbody-radiation-induced depopulation rates and effective lifetimes of Rydberg nS, nP,
and nD alkali-metal atoms with n ~ 80. Phys Rev A 79:052504
3. Spencer WP, Vaidyanathan AG, Kleppner D, Ducas TW (1982) Photoionization by blackbody
radiation. Phys Rev A 26:1490–1493
4. Burkhardt CE, Corey RL, Garver WP, Leventhal JJ, Allegrini M, Moi L (1986) Ionization of
Rydberg atoms. Phys Rev A 34:80–88
5. Lehman GW (1983) Rate of ionisation of H and Na Rydberg atoms by black-body radiation.
J Phys B: At Mol Phys 16:2145