Stark quenching for the $1s^22s2p^3P_0$ level in beryllium-like ions and parity-violating effects

Abstract

In this paper we present some concepts in heavy ion atomic physics for the extraction of parity violating effects. We investigate the effects of the so-called Stark-quenching, i.e., the fast decay of a meta stable state induced by a Stark field, and the superposition of one- and two-photon transitions in beryllium-like heavy ions. It turns out that the discussed theoretical phenomena for heavy ions with few electrons are beyond the scope of present day experimental possibilities because one has to require beam energies of up to 1 TeV/A, laser intensities of up to $10^{17} {\rm W/cm^2}$ and ion currents of up to $10^{11}$ ions per second in beryllium-like uranium. However, especially the superposition of one- and two-photon transitions is a very interesting phenomenon that could provide the germ of an idea to be applied in a more favorable system.

20 pages latex, revised version for J. Phys. B