Abstract

Radially localized wave packets in atoms were described theoretically in 1986^1,2 and were observed shortly thereafter in rubidium.³ In this work we produce wave packets by two-photon excitation of the ns and (n – 2)d states of К and Rb (n = 8 for K, n = 10 and 11 for Rb). Although the wave-packet behavior does exhibit quantum beats between the ns and the (n – 2)d states, Fourier analysis also demonstrates the existence of frequency components associated with the ns – (n – 1 )p and the (n – 2)d – (n – Y)p energy differences.

© 1995 Optical Society of America