An introduction to the physics of highly excited, easily perturbed or interacting atoms. Covers Rydberg states, quantum defect theory, atomic f-values, centrifugal barrier effects, autoionisation, inner shell and double excitation spectra, K-matrix theory, atoms in high laser fields, statistical methods, quantum chaos, and atomic effects in solids.

This monograph is devoted to the basic aspects of the physics of highly ex cited (Rydberg) states of atom's. After almost twenty years, this remains a hot topic of modern atomic physics. Such studies are important for many areas of physics and its applications including spectroscopy, astrophysics and radio astronomy, physics of electronic and atomic collisions, kinetics and di agnostics of gases, and low- and high-temperature plasmas. Physical phenom ena in radiative, collisional, and spectral-line broadening processes involving Rydberg atoms and ions are primarily determined by the peculiar properties and exotic features of highly excited states. The growth of interest and research activity in the physics of Rydberg the last two decades was stimulated by an extremely rapid de atoms over velopment of high-resolution laser spectroscopy, methods of selective excita tion and detection of highly excited states, atomic-beam techniques as well as radio astronomy. This has facilitated significant progress in the differ ent directions of the physics of highly excited atoms being of fundamental and practical importance. In particular, evident advances were achieved in studies of the structure and spectra of highly excited atoms, their behavior in static electric and magnetic fields, interactions with electromagnetic ra diation, spectral-line broadening and the shift of Rydberg series, collisions with electrons, ions, atoms, and molecules, etc. The principle objective of the present book is to reflect the most important physical approaches and efficient theoretical techniques in the modem physics of highly excited atoms and ions.

After the development of the tunable laser, experimental studies in Rydberg states of atoms and molecules grew at a remarkable rate. Fundamental questions were resolved, opening doors for more experimental activity and theoretical inquiry. In this comprehensive summary of knowledge of Rydberg states, which was originally published in 1983, Professors Stebbings and Dunning brought together a select collection of experimental and theoretical discussions. Composed of works by the acknowledged leaders in the field, this volume will be of value for anyone with an interest in molecular physics.

Intended for advanced students of physics, chemistry and related disciplines, this text treats the quantum theory of atoms and ions within the framework of self-consistent fields. Data needed for the analysis of collisions and other atomic processes are also included.

This volume presents a current review of knowledge on elementary collision processes of highly excited atoms with neutral particles. It provides the basic physical approaches and theoretical techniques for the description of a broad class of observed collision phenomena in gases and low temperature plasmas involving Rydberg atoms. The author considers different mechanisms of inelastic and quasielastic collisions with a change in the principal and orbital quantum numbers, transitions between the fine-structure components, direct and associative ionisation, ion-pair formation and electron-ion recombination processes.