| Coherent manipulation of atomic motion has been a subject of increased interest in atomic physics because it provides the opportunity to perform precision spectroscopy. Since the first demonstration of laser cooling techniques, exerting controlled optical forces on neutral atoms has made it possible to develop new tools for working on the near-atomic scale. While most of these tools are based on manipulating atoms with laser light, a different method which exploits the interaction of Rydberg atoms with inhomogeneous electrostatic fields to control the atomic motion was proposed in 1981.; Atoms in Rydberg states have a large dipole moment because their outer electrons are located far from the core. Due to the relatively strong dipole interaction, therefore, the motion of Rydberg atoms can be affected even by weak and moderate field gradients. Ultimately, it is desirable to maximize the population in the Rydberg states to increase the intensity of the beam focused by an electrostatic lens. In a new approach to achieve a highly efficient population transfer, we take advantage of the highly efficient Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP) excitation technique.; In this thesis, we first present an investigation of the Stark-shifted atomic energy levels and compare our observations to numerical calculations. Once the state with the highest transition efficiency has been identified we employ the coherent STIRAP excitation technique in order to achieve a complete population transfer from the metastable ground state to the target state via an intermediate state in the three-level ladder system 23S1 → 33 P2 → nLj of triplet helium. In order to fulfill the strict conditions for STIRAP, we also need to know the Rabi frequencies of the laser fields. For this purpose, the Autler-Townes effect is also examined.; Finally, we demonstrate an example of atom optics by focusing the atomic beam with our electrostatic lens after preparing the metastable helium atoms in one of the well-defined Rydberg states. Possible applications of this new technique are nanofabrication or lithography. |
