Indications of high-intensity adiabatic stabilization in neon

We study the stabilization behavior of the circular 5g state in neon in a two-pulse experiment. A first pulse prepares the state. Comparison of the single-photon ionization yield, due to a second laser pulse for both short (0.1 ps) intense and long (1 ps) less intense pulses, shows an intensity-dependent suppression of ionization. The smaller yield due to the short pulses, at intensities of several times 10¹³ W/cm², is in accordance with recent predictions of stabilization.