Microwave ionization of hydrogen atoms: Experiment vs classical dynamics

Ionization of hydrogen atoms with principal quantum number n = 32, 40, and 51--74 by a 9.92-GHz electric field F(t)zF0 cosωt was studied with a superimposed static electric field F-bar/sub s/ = 0,2,5,8 V/cm. The measured field strengths F0(10%) at which 10% of the atoms were ionized are in excellent agreement with classical calculations in both one and two spatial dimensions. Covering finer detail as well as gross structure of the n dependence of F0(10%), the agreement supports the application of classical dynamics to the analysis of this strongly perturbed quantum system