Abstract

The hydrogen atom in a strong magnetic field is a fundamental problem in physics. When the diamagnetic interaction (H_d = -γ²(x² + y²)/8 with γ = B/2.35 × 10⁵) is included in the Hamiltonian, the Schrodinger equation is nonseparable and non-integrable. We have performed experiments on hydrogen-like helium Rydberg atoms. In such a highly excited system the classical equations of motion can be solved. When the diamagnetic interaction is of the order of the Coulomb interaction, these equations of motion turn chaotic. Experimental spectra can in principal be interpreted with the framework of closed-orbit theory.¹

© 1994 IEEE