Dynamical effects at avoided level crossings: A study of the Landau-Zener effect using Rydberg atoms

Abstract

We present a study of the dynamics of traversing an avoided energy level crossing. A pair of Stark levels of Rydberg states of lithium are used as a test system for measuring the diabatic transition probability. The experimental conditions are close to those assumed by the Landau-Zener theory. Possible corrections to the Landau-Zener theory are analyzed, and applications of the results to pulsed-field ionization are discussed.