Quasiclassical theory of quantum defect and spectrum of highly excited rubidium atoms
arXiv:1501.07068 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.91.032509
Abstract
We report on a significant discrepancy between recently published highly accurate variational calculations and precise measurements of the spectrum of Rydberg states in $^{87}$Rb on the energy scale of fine splitting. Introducing a modified effective single-electron potential we determine the spectrum of the outermost bound electron from a standard WKB approach. Overall very good agreement with precise spectroscopic data is obtained.
6 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables