Magnetic Field Induced Two-Body Phenomena in Atoms

Abstract

We report on a number of recently discovered phenomena which arise due to the interaction of the collective (CM) and internal motion of atoms moving in magnetic fields. For neutral atoms the properties of the so-called giant dipole states are discussed and their experimental preparation is outlined. For ions moving in magnetic fields the energy flow between the collective and electronic motions is studied. For low CM velocities this results in a crossover from localization to delocalization with respect to the spreading of the mixing of the CM and internal motion in quantum number space. Large CM velocities induce for both the classical as well as quantum ion the self-ionization process. Future perspectives for both multi-electron atoms as well as molecules are drawn.