Photoabsorption spectra of atoms in parallel electric and magnetic fields

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the absorption spectrum of Ba from the 6s6p $^{1}$${\mathit{P}}_{1}$ level to states near the ionization threshold in parallel electric and magnetic fields. The absorption spectrum shows oscillations superposed on a smooth background. Each oscillation is correlated with a closed orbit of the electron. At strong electric fields, trajectories are regular, and closed orbits form orderly patterns. For weak electric fields, trajectories are chaotic, and many more closed orbits are present. Many of these are produced by bifurcations as the electric field is reduced.