Resonance wave functions located at the Stark saddle point

Abstract

We calculate quantum mechanically exact wave functions of resonances in spectra of the hydrogen atom in crossed external fields and prove the existence of long-lived decaying quantum states localized at the Stark saddle point. A spectrum of ground and excited states reproducing the nodal patterns expected from simple quadratic and cubic expansions of the potential in the vicinity of the saddle point can be identified. The results demonstrate the presence of resonances in the vicinity of the saddle predicted by simple approximations.