Observation of the Collapse and Revival of a Rydberg Electronic Wave Packet

摘要

An observation of the long-term evolution for a radially localized electronicwave packet is formed by the coherent superposition of Rydberg states of atomic potassium. Initially, the wave packet can be described classically. Subsequent dephasing of the discrete states in the superposition leads to a loss of spatial localization so that the evolution can no longer be described classically. However, the wave packet revives at a later time. Theory and experiment show good agreement including an accurate measurement of the phase shift of the wave packet on revival. Reprints. (jhd)