Quantum Poincare Recurrences for Hydrogen Atom in a Microwave Field

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quantum and classical dynamics of Rydberg atoms in microwave fields, revealing a universal algebraic decay in survival probability linked to tunneling and localization effects, with implications for experimental observation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the quantum survival probability follows classical behavior up to the Heisenberg time and then decays algebraically, highlighting quantum tunneling and localization effects in atomic ionization.

Findings

Quantum survival probability matches classical up to Heisenberg time

Decay follows P(t) ~ 1/t due to tunneling and localization

Parameter regimes identified for experimental observation

Abstract

We study the time dependence of the ionization probability of Rydberg atoms driven by a microwave field, both in classical and in quantum mechanics. The quantum survival probability follows the classical one up to the Heisenberg time and then decays algebraically as P(t) ~ 1/t. This decay law derives from the exponentially long times required to escape from some region of the phase space, due to tunneling and localization effects. We also provide parameter values which should allow to observe such decay in laboratory experiments.