Interference stabilization of Rydberg atoms: numerical calculations and physical models

Interference stabilization of atoms is investigated numerically. Raman-type transitions to Rydberg states with higher values of the electron orbital momentum are taken into account. These transitions are shown to change qualitatively theoretical predictions concerning the dependence of the time of ionization on the light-field-strength amplitude : if the weak-field time of ionization, as usual, is a falling function of , in a strong-field region the function is predicted to be more or less constant and of the order of the classical Kepler period in a rather large interval of , in contrast with the earlier prediction according to which, in a strong field, was assumed to be a rather fast growing function. The results derived are shown to be in a rather good agreement with the existing experiments. Alternative theoretical models are discussed.