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arXiv:0809.2341 · Physical Review A

Observation of electric quadrupole transitions to Rydberg nd states of ultracold rubidium atoms

D. Tong, S. M. Farooqi, E. G. M. van Kempen, Zoran Miroslav Pavlovic, Jovica Stanojevic, Robin Côté, Edward E. Eyler, P. L. Gould

Published May 15, 2009• 37 citations
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Abstract

We report the observation of dipole-forbidden, but quadrupole-allowed, one-photon transitions to high-Rydberg states in Rb. Using pulsed uv excitation of ultracold atoms in a magneto-optical trap, we excite $5s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}nd$ transitions over a range of principal quantum numbers $n=27--59$. Compared to dipole-allowed (E1) transitions from $5s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}np$, these E2 transitions are weaker by a factor of approximately 2000. We also report measurements of the anomalous $n{p}_{3/2}:n{p}_{1/2}$ fine-structure transition strength ratio for $n=28--75$. Both results are in agreement with theoretical predictions.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.79.052509

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Long-Range Interactions in an Ultracold Rubidium Rydberg Gas

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New phenomena have been observed by exciting ultracold ground-state atoms to Rydberg states. Starting with a dense sample of Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap, we excite them to high Rydberg states (n = 30 - 90) with a single UV excitation pulse. Long-range molecular resonances with interatomic distances exceeding 104 a0 have been discovered. We have also observed the Rydberg excitation blockade, crucial for the implementation of quantum phase gates using neutral atoms. The physics behind these observations is attributed to the strong long-range van der Waals interactions among the Rydberg atoms. In addition, we have seen dipole (E1) forbidden but quadrupole (E2) allowed 5s → nd transitions, allowing us to determine the E2 oscillator strengths to these high Rydberg states. Our narrow-band UV pulsed laser system, with ∼100 MHz bandwidth, also allows us to measure the ratios of j-dependent oscillator strengths to the p and d Rydberg states. ^

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Forbidden Transitions in a Magneto-Optical Trap

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The 5P3/2→6PJ(J=1/2,3/2) Electric Dipole Forbidden Transitions in Rubidium

F. Ponciano-Ojeda, Cristian Mojica-Casique, Santiago Hernández-Gómez +7 more

This paper presents a general review of the results of the experimental and theoretical work carried out by our research group to study the 5P3/2→6PJ electric quadrupole transition in atomic rubidium. The experiments were carried out with room-temperature atoms in an absorption cell. A steady-state population of atoms in the 5P3/2 excited state is produced by a a narrow-bandwidth preparation laser locked to the D2 transition. A second CW laser is used to produce the forbidden transition with resolution of the 6PJ hyperfine states of both rubidium isotopes. The process is detected by recording the 420(422) nm fluorescence that occurs when the atoms in the 6PJ state decay directly into the 5S ground state. The fluorescence spectra show a strong dependence on the relative polarization directions of the preparation laser and the beam producing the forbidden transition. This dependence is directly related to a strong anisotropy in the populations of the 5P3/2 intermediate magnetic substates, and also to the electric quadrupole selection rules over magnetic quantum numbers. A calculation based on the rate equations that includes velocity and detuning dependent transition rates is adequate to reproduce these results. The forbidden transition is also shown to be an ideal probe to measure the Autler–Townes splitting generated in the preparation of the 5P3/2 state. Examples of spectra obtained with cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are also presented. These spectra show the expected Autler–Townes doublet structure with asymmetric line profiles that result as a consequence of the red-detuning of the trapping laser in the MOT.

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Optical spectroscopy of the 5 p 3/2 → 6 p 1/2 electric dipole-forbidden transition in atomic rubidium

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Abstract We present the first evidence of excitation of the 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 1 / 2 electric dipole-forbidden transition in atomic rubidium. The experiments were done in a rubidium vapor cell using Doppler-free optical–optical double resonance spectroscopy with counter-propagating beams, with a similar scheme to the excitation of the other fine transition 6 p 3/2 in the 6 p J manifold reported in Ponciano-Ojeda et al (2015 Phys. Rev. A 92 042511). The 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 1 / 2 dipole-forbidden excitation occurs at a wavelength λ ≈ 917.5 nm. The spectra showed the two main hyperfine states of the 6 p 1/2 manifold, and also resolved up to three satellites that appear due to effects of selection of velocities in thermal rubidium atoms. The polarization dependence of the relative intensities of the hyperfine lines of the decay fluorescence is also investigated. The data show that the individual line intensities and also the total cross-section have a strong dependence on the polarization direction. Experimental data for different polarization configurations of the light beams used in this two-photon spectroscopy are compared with the results of calculations that consider a strong atom-field coupling in the preparation step, followed by a weak electric quadrupole excitation and the blue fluorescence decay emission. Good agreement between experiment and this three-step model is found in the case of linear–linear polarizations, which confirms the results found for the 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 3 / 2 forbidden transition. The results presented here complete the information about the 5 p 3/2 → 6 p J electric dipole-forbidden transition in rubidium.

arXiv:1809.05451•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Apr 23, 2019•6 citations

Dipole-dipole interaction between rubidium Rydberg atoms

Emily Altiere, Donald P. Fahey, Michael W. Noel +2 more

Ultracold Rydberg atoms in a static electric field can exchange energy via the dipole-dipole interaction. The Stark effect shifts the energy levels of the atoms which tunes the energy exchange into resonance at specific values of the electric field (F\"orster resonances). We excite rubidium atoms to Rydberg states by focusing either a 480 nm beam from a tunable dye laser or a pair of diode lasers into a magneto-optical trap. The trap lies at the center of a configuration of electrodes. We scan the electric field by controlling the voltage on the electrodes while measuring the fraction of atoms that interact. Dipole-dipole interaction spectra are presented for initially excited rubidium $nd$ states for $n=31$ to 46 and for four different pairs of initially excited rubidium $ns$ states. We also present the dipole-dipole interaction spectra for individual rubidium 32$d$ $(j,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{m}_{j})$ fine structure levels that have been selectively excited. The data are compared to calculated spectra.

Physical Review A•Nov 28, 2011•26 citations
We report the observation of dipole-forbidden, but quadrupole-allowed, one-photon transitions to high-Rydberg states in Rb. Using pulsed uv excitation of ultracold atoms in a magneto-optical trap, we excite 5s\ensuremath→nd5s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}nd5s\ensuremath→nd transitions over a range of principal quantum numbers n=27−−59n=27--59n=27−−59. Compared to dipole-allowed (E1) transitions from 5s\ensuremath→np5s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}np5s\ensuremath→np, these E2 transitions are weaker by a factor of approximately 2000. We also report measurements of the anomalous np3/2:np1/2n{p}_{3/2}:n{p}_{1/2}np3/2​:np1/2​ fine-structure transition strength ratio for n=28−−75n=28--75n=28−−75. Both results are in agreement with theoretical predictions.
New phenomena have been observed by exciting ultracold ground-state atoms to Rydberg states. Starting with a dense sample of Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap, we excite them to high Rydberg states (n = 30 - 90) with a single UV excitation pulse. Long-range molecular resonances with interatomic distances exceeding 104 a0 have been discovered. We have also observed the Rydberg excitation blockade, crucial for the implementation of quantum phase gates using neutral atoms. The physics behind these observations is attributed to the strong long-range van der Waals interactions among the Rydberg atoms. In addition, we have seen dipole (E1) forbidden but quadrupole (E2) allowed 5s → nd transitions, allowing us to determine the E2 oscillator strengths to these high Rydberg states. Our narrow-band UV pulsed laser system, with ∼100 MHz bandwidth, also allows us to measure the ratios of j-dependent oscillator strengths to the p and d Rydberg states. ^
We report the first observation of a nondipole transition in an ultracold atomic vapor. We excite the $3P\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}4P$ electric quadrupole (E2E2E2) transition in 23Na^{23}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}23Na confined in a magneto-optical trap, and we demonstrate its application to high-resolution spectroscopy by making the first measurement of the hyperfine structure of the 4P1/24{P}_{1/2}4P1/2​ level and extracting the magnetic dipole constant $\mathrm{A}=30.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{M}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}$. We use cw optical-optical double resonance accompanied by photoionization to probe the transition.
This paper presents a general review of the results of the experimental and theoretical work carried out by our research group to study the 5P3/2→6PJ electric quadrupole transition in atomic rubidium. The experiments were carried out with room-temperature atoms in an absorption cell. A steady-state population of atoms in the 5P3/2 excited state is produced by a a narrow-bandwidth preparation laser locked to the D2 transition. A second CW laser is used to produce the forbidden transition with resolution of the 6PJ hyperfine states of both rubidium isotopes. The process is detected by recording the 420(422) nm fluorescence that occurs when the atoms in the 6PJ state decay directly into the 5S ground state. The fluorescence spectra show a strong dependence on the relative polarization directions of the preparation laser and the beam producing the forbidden transition. This dependence is directly related to a strong anisotropy in the populations of the 5P3/2 intermediate magnetic substates, and also to the electric quadrupole selection rules over magnetic quantum numbers. A calculation based on the rate equations that includes velocity and detuning dependent transition rates is adequate to reproduce these results. The forbidden transition is also shown to be an ideal probe to measure the Autler–Townes splitting generated in the preparation of the 5P3/2 state. Examples of spectra obtained with cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are also presented. These spectra show the expected Autler–Townes doublet structure with asymmetric line profiles that result as a consequence of the red-detuning of the trapping laser in the MOT.
Abstract We present the first evidence of excitation of the 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 1 / 2 electric dipole-forbidden transition in atomic rubidium. The experiments were done in a rubidium vapor cell using Doppler-free optical–optical double resonance spectroscopy with counter-propagating beams, with a similar scheme to the excitation of the other fine transition 6 p 3/2 in the 6 p J manifold reported in Ponciano-Ojeda et al (2015 Phys. Rev. A 92 042511). The 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 1 / 2 dipole-forbidden excitation occurs at a wavelength λ ≈ 917.5 nm. The spectra showed the two main hyperfine states of the 6 p 1/2 manifold, and also resolved up to three satellites that appear due to effects of selection of velocities in thermal rubidium atoms. The polarization dependence of the relative intensities of the hyperfine lines of the decay fluorescence is also investigated. The data show that the individual line intensities and also the total cross-section have a strong dependence on the polarization direction. Experimental data for different polarization configurations of the light beams used in this two-photon spectroscopy are compared with the results of calculations that consider a strong atom-field coupling in the preparation step, followed by a weak electric quadrupole excitation and the blue fluorescence decay emission. Good agreement between experiment and this three-step model is found in the case of linear–linear polarizations, which confirms the results found for the 5 p 3 / 2 → 6 p 3 / 2 forbidden transition. The results presented here complete the information about the 5 p 3/2 → 6 p J electric dipole-forbidden transition in rubidium.
Ultracold Rydberg atoms in a static electric field can exchange energy via the dipole-dipole interaction. The Stark effect shifts the energy levels of the atoms which tunes the energy exchange into resonance at specific values of the electric field (F\"orster resonances). We excite rubidium atoms to Rydberg states by focusing either a 480 nm beam from a tunable dye laser or a pair of diode lasers into a magneto-optical trap. The trap lies at the center of a configuration of electrodes. We scan the electric field by controlling the voltage on the electrodes while measuring the fraction of atoms that interact. Dipole-dipole interaction spectra are presented for initially excited rubidium ndndnd states for n=31n=31n=31 to 46 and for four different pairs of initially excited rubidium nsnsns states. We also present the dipole-dipole interaction spectra for individual rubidium 32ddd (j,mj)(j,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{m}_{j})(j,mj​) fine structure levels that have been selectively excited. The data are compared to calculated spectra.