Quasi-static Ionization of Rydberg Alkali-metal Atoms: a classical view of the n^(-5) scaling

Abstract

A fully classical explanation of the nonhydrogenic ionization threshold for low angular momentum Rydberg states of Alkali-metal atoms in a linearly polarized low frequency monochromatic microwave field is given: the classical equivalent to the quantum rate-limiting step, which is responsible for the n^(-5) scaling and which according to the literature initiates what then continues as essentially classical diffusion, is found.