Ionization of Rydberg atoms by a circularly polarized microwave field

We report the first observation of the ionization of Rydberg atoms by a circularly polarized 8.5-GHz microwave field. The observed threshold field for ionization is E=1/16n⁴, a value higher than that required for ionization by a linearly polarized microwave field. The origin of this threshold can be understood by transforming to a frame rotating at the microwave frequency. In the rotating frame no transitions occur, and level mixings alone are responsible for the ionization.