Observation of Rydberg wave packet dynamics in a Coulombic and magnetic field

Rydberg electron wave packets are investigated, using phase-modulated detection. In the absence of any external field we observe pure radial motion of a bound electron wave packet showing both the first integer revival and all fractional revivals up to the seventh order; in the presence of a magnetic field (0.81 T) both paramagnetic and diamagnetic effects are observed. Paramagnetism is visible in the time-correlation function of the wave packet as a sinusoidal intensity modulation, with a period of 43 ps, superimposed on the radial motion; the diamagnetism is observed as a decrease in the radial recurrence times (by up to 35%).