Quantum chaotic scattering in atomic physics: Ericson fluctuations in photoionization

We report the first experimental investigation of quantum chaotic scattering in an atomic system: Rb-85 in strong crossed magnetic and electric fields in an energy regime beyond the ionization threshold, where the classical dynamics is an example of chaotic scattering. We find Ericson fluctuations in the spectra for photo excitation into this regime. This result constitutes the first observation of Ericson fluctuations in atomic and molecular physics. Furthermore, we confirm the prediction that chaotic scattering in the underlying classical dynamics implies Ericson fluctuations.