circular state

plural circular states

1. natural sciencesAny of those quantum states of an atom, which has a high principal quantum number n, and a magnetic quantum number m_l with the maximum possible magnitude, |m_l|=n-1.

   So-called circular states with the maximal angular momentum L#61;n-1 can have lifetimes exceeding 100 s, 10⁶ times longer than those of low-L states, in appropriately engineered environments.

   2021 August 6, Sam R. Cohen and Jeff D. Thompson, “Quantum Computing with Circular Rydberg Atoms”, in PRX Quantum, volume 2, →DOI, page 030322

   2 more examples

   […] [T]he selection rules on the Auger and X-ray transition probabilities tend to populate preferentially the circular states, that is those for which the orbital angular momentum l is given by l#61;n-1.

   1962 December 29, J.R. Rook, “The decay of K⁻ mesic atoms”, in Nuclear Physics, volume 39, →DOI, page 479

   We report the production of a population of atoms in a Rydberg state with #124;m#124;#61;n-1, where m and n are the magnetic and principal quantum numbers, respectively. We designate these states as "circular" because in the classical limit they describe an electron in a circular orbit. Among all the states with a given principal quantum number, the circular states have the largest magnetic moment, smallest Stark effect, and longest radiative lifetime.

   1983 October 17, Randall G. Hulet and Daniel Kleppner, “Rydberg Atoms in "Circular" States”, in Physical Review Letters, volume 51, →DOI, page 1430