Stark deceleration of hydrogen atoms

Hydrogen atoms in a cold supersonic expansion with an average velocity of 700 m s −1 have been excited to Rydberg Stark states with principal quantum number in the range n = 20–25 and subsequently decelerated and accelerated in time-independent inhomogeneous electric fields. Accelerations of up to 2 × 10 8 m s −2 have been achieved and the initial kinetic energy of atoms prepared in low (high)-field seeking Stark states could be more than quadrupled (halved) over a flight distance of only 3 mm and in a time of less than 5 µs. The control over the velocity of the Rydberg atoms is such that trapping can be envisaged.