A study of Stark effects of Rydberg p states of noble gas atoms

We have studied the Stark effect for Rydberg p states of noble gas atoms using laser optogalvanic spectroscopy. The measurements were performed in the sheath region of noble gas glow discharges. Laser excitation from metastable states to np states was monitored by optogalvanic spectroscopy. Clear Stark shifts were observed and the experimental results were compared with a theoretical calculation based on solving the Schrodinger equation of noble gas atoms in an electric field. There was good agreement between the calculation results and the experimental results. The analysis shows that the Stark shift of np states of noble gas atoms can be used for electric field measurements. This method can be a useful alternative to electric field methods based on excitation to nf states because of the higher transition probability of np states.