Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1202.2182 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Effect of photoions on the line shape of the Förster resonance lines and microwave transitions in cold rubidium Rydberg atoms

D. B. Tretyakov, Ilya I. Beterov, V. M. Entin, E. A. Yakshina, I. I. Ryabtsev, S. F. Dyubko, E. A. Alekseev, N. L. Pogrebnyak, Nikolai N. Bezuglov, E. Arimondo

Published Jan 1, 2012• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Experiments are carried out on the spectroscopy of the Förster resonance lines Rb(37 P ) + Rb(37 P ) → Rb(37 S ) + Rb(38 S ) and microwave transitions nP → n ′ S , n ′ D between Rydberg states of cold rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Under ordinary conditions, all spectra exhibit a linewidth of 2–3 MHz irrespective of the interaction time between atoms or between atoms and microwave radiation, although the limit resonance width should be determined by the inverse interaction time. The analysis of experimental conditions has shown that the main source of line broadening is the inhomogeneous electric field of cold photoions that are generated under the excitation of initial nP Rydberg states by broadband pulsed laser radiation. The application of an additional electric-field pulse that rapidly extracts photoions produced by a laser pulse leads to a considerable narrowing of lines of microwave resonances and the Förster resonance. Various sources of line broadening in cold Rydberg atoms are analyzed.

DOI
10.1134/s1063776111160102

Related papers

Publisher's Note: Line shapes and time dynamics of the Förster resonances between two Rydberg atoms in a time-varying electric field [Phys. Rev. A 94 , 043417 (2016)]

Elena A. Yakshina, Denis B. Tretyakov, Ilya I. Beterov +7 more

The observation of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the Förster resonance. In our experiments with a few cold Rb Rydberg atoms we have found that the transients at the edges of the electric pulses strongly affect the line shapes of the Förster resonances, since the population transfer at the resonances occurs on a time scale of $\sim$100 ns, which is comparable with the duration of the transients. For example, a short-term ringing at a certain frequency causes additional radio-frequency-assisted Förster resonances, while non-sharp edges lead to asymmetry. The intentional application of the radio-frequency field induces transitions between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the Förster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances ${\rm Rb}(nP_{3/2} )+{\rm Rb}(nP_{3/2} )\to {\rm Rb}(nS_{1/2} )+{\rm Rb}([n+1]S_{1/2} )$ for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.

arXiv:1606.06016•Physical Review A•Oct 31, 2016•0 citations

Controlling the interactions between cold Rydberg atoms by a time-varying electric field

I. I. Ryabtsev, Denis B. Tretyakov, Vasily M. Entin +3 more

Long-range interactions between cold Rydberg atoms are being investigated for neutral-atom quantum computing, quantum simulations, phase transitions in cold Rydberg gases and other applications. Fine tuning of the interaction strength can be implemented using Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms controlled by an electric field. The observation of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the Förster resonance. The application of the radio-frequency field causes additional Förster resonances between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the Förster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances Rb( nP 3/2 ) + Rb( nP 3/2 ) → Rb( nS 1/2 ) + Rb([ n + 1] S 1/2 ) for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jan 1, 2017•0 citations

Dipole-dipole broadening of Rb ns−np microwave transitions

Hyunwook Park, Paul J. Tanner, Brigitte J. C. Claessens +2 more

The dipole-dipole broadening of $ns\ensuremath{-}np$ microwave transitions of cold Rb Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap has been recorded for $28\ensuremath{\leqslant}n\ensuremath{\leqslant}51$. Since the electric dipole transition matrix elements scale as ${n}^{2}$, a broadening rate scaling as ${n}^{4}$ is expected and a broadening rate of $8.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}{n}^{4}$ MHz cm${}^{3}$ is observed. The observed broadening is smaller than expected from a classical picture due to the spin-orbit interaction in the $np$ atoms. The broadened resonances are asymmetric and cusp shaped, and their line shapes can be reproduced by a diatomic model which takes into account the dipole-dipole interaction, including the spin-orbit interaction, the strengths of the allowed microwave transitions, and the distribution of the atomic spacings in the trap.

Physical Review A•Aug 5, 2011•40 citations

HIGH RESOLUTION MICROWAVE SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRA COLD RYDBERG ATOMS AS A PROBE OF ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

Parisa Bohlouli-Zanjani

In highly excited Rydberg atoms, the excited electron is in a large, loosely bound orbit. Hence, in contrast with the ground states, the Rydberg states are very sensitive to external electric field and can be ionized in rather weak fields. The low ionization threshold of Rydberg states results in effective state-specific detection by the selective field ionization technique. \t In this thesis, high-resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg states of Rubidium using millimeter wave transitions and selective field ionization has been used as a probe of external electric and magnetic fields. Laser cooling and trapping techniques in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are employed to have a high density and narrow velocity distribution for the atomic sample. In this work the magnetic field inhomogeneity inherent in a MOT is minimized and the stray electric field present at the trap region is compensated in order to have resolved spectra. The Stark line broadening of the spectra obtained in this work may be used to determine the electric field distribution in an expanding ultra-cold neutral plasma.

•Jan 1, 2003•2 citations

Spectroscopy of the three-photon laser excitation of cold Rubidium Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap

Vasily M. Entin, Elena A. Yakshina, Denis B. Tretyakov +2 more

The spectra of the three-photon laser excitation 5 S 1/2 → 5 P 3/2 → 6 S 1/2 nP of cold Rb Rydberg atoms in an operating magneto-optical trap based on continuous single-frequency lasers at each stage are studied. These spectra contain two partly overlapping peaks of different amplitudes, which correspond to coherent three-photon excitation and incoherent three-step excitation due to the presence of two different ways of excitation through the dressed states of intermediate levels. A four-level theoretical model based on optical Bloch equations is developed to analyze these spectra. Good agreement between the experimental and calculated data is achieved by introducing additional decay of optical coherence induced by a finite laser line width and other broadening sources (stray electromagnetic fields, residual Doppler broadening, interatomic interactions) into the model.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics•May 1, 2013•27 citations

Line shapes and time dynamics of the Förster resonances between two Rydberg atoms in a time-varying electric field

Elena A. Yakshina, Denis B. Tretyakov, Ilya I. Beterov +7 more

The observation of the Stark-tuned F\"orster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the F\"orster resonance. In our experiments with a few cold Rb Rydberg atoms, we have found that the transients at the edges of the electric pulses strongly affect the line shapes of the F\"orster resonances, since the population transfer at the resonances occurs on a time scale of $\ensuremath{\sim}100$ ns, which is comparable with the duration of the transients. For example, a short-term ringing at a certain frequency causes additional radio-frequency-assisted F\"orster resonances, while nonsharp edges lead to asymmetry. The intentional application of the radio-frequency field induces transitions between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the F\"orster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned F\"orster resonances $\mathrm{Rb}(n{P}_{3/2})+\mathrm{Rb}(n{P}_{3/2})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{Rb}(n{S}_{1/2})+\mathrm{Rb}([n+1]{S}_{1/2})$ for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.

Physical Review A•Oct 21, 2016•21 citations
Experiments are carried out on the spectroscopy of the Förster resonance lines Rb(37 P ) + Rb(37 P ) → Rb(37 S ) + Rb(38 S ) and microwave transitions nP → n ′ S , n ′ D between Rydberg states of cold rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Under ordinary conditions, all spectra exhibit a linewidth of 2–3 MHz irrespective of the interaction time between atoms or between atoms and microwave radiation, although the limit resonance width should be determined by the inverse interaction time. The analysis of experimental conditions has shown that the main source of line broadening is the inhomogeneous electric field of cold photoions that are generated under the excitation of initial nP Rydberg states by broadband pulsed laser radiation. The application of an additional electric-field pulse that rapidly extracts photoions produced by a laser pulse leads to a considerable narrowing of lines of microwave resonances and the Förster resonance. Various sources of line broadening in cold Rydberg atoms are analyzed.
The observation of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the Förster resonance. In our experiments with a few cold Rb Rydberg atoms we have found that the transients at the edges of the electric pulses strongly affect the line shapes of the Förster resonances, since the population transfer at the resonances occurs on a time scale of $\sim$100 ns, which is comparable with the duration of the transients. For example, a short-term ringing at a certain frequency causes additional radio-frequency-assisted Förster resonances, while non-sharp edges lead to asymmetry. The intentional application of the radio-frequency field induces transitions between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the Förster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances Rb(nP3/2)+Rb(nP3/2)→Rb(nS1/2)+Rb([n+1]S1/2){\rm Rb}(nP_{3/2} )+{\rm Rb}(nP_{3/2} )\to {\rm Rb}(nS_{1/2} )+{\rm Rb}([n+1]S_{1/2} )Rb(nP3/2​)+Rb(nP3/2​)→Rb(nS1/2​)+Rb([n+1]S1/2​) for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.
Long-range interactions between cold Rydberg atoms are being investigated for neutral-atom quantum computing, quantum simulations, phase transitions in cold Rydberg gases and other applications. Fine tuning of the interaction strength can be implemented using Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms controlled by an electric field. The observation of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the Förster resonance. The application of the radio-frequency field causes additional Förster resonances between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the Förster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned Förster resonances Rb( nP 3/2 ) + Rb( nP 3/2 ) → Rb( nS 1/2 ) + Rb([ n + 1] S 1/2 ) for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.
The dipole-dipole broadening of $ns\ensuremath{-}np$ microwave transitions of cold Rb Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap has been recorded for $28\ensuremath{\leqslant}n\ensuremath{\leqslant}51$. Since the electric dipole transition matrix elements scale as n2{n}^{2}n2, a broadening rate scaling as n4{n}^{4}n4 is expected and a broadening rate of $8.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}{n}^{4}$ MHz cm3{}^{3}3 is observed. The observed broadening is smaller than expected from a classical picture due to the spin-orbit interaction in the npnpnp atoms. The broadened resonances are asymmetric and cusp shaped, and their line shapes can be reproduced by a diatomic model which takes into account the dipole-dipole interaction, including the spin-orbit interaction, the strengths of the allowed microwave transitions, and the distribution of the atomic spacings in the trap.
In highly excited Rydberg atoms, the excited electron is in a large, loosely bound orbit. Hence, in contrast with the ground states, the Rydberg states are very sensitive to external electric field and can be ionized in rather weak fields. The low ionization threshold of Rydberg states results in effective state-specific detection by the selective field ionization technique. \t In this thesis, high-resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg states of Rubidium using millimeter wave transitions and selective field ionization has been used as a probe of external electric and magnetic fields. Laser cooling and trapping techniques in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are employed to have a high density and narrow velocity distribution for the atomic sample. In this work the magnetic field inhomogeneity inherent in a MOT is minimized and the stray electric field present at the trap region is compensated in order to have resolved spectra. The Stark line broadening of the spectra obtained in this work may be used to determine the electric field distribution in an expanding ultra-cold neutral plasma.
The spectra of the three-photon laser excitation 5 S 1/2 → 5 P 3/2 → 6 S 1/2 nP of cold Rb Rydberg atoms in an operating magneto-optical trap based on continuous single-frequency lasers at each stage are studied. These spectra contain two partly overlapping peaks of different amplitudes, which correspond to coherent three-photon excitation and incoherent three-step excitation due to the presence of two different ways of excitation through the dressed states of intermediate levels. A four-level theoretical model based on optical Bloch equations is developed to analyze these spectra. Good agreement between the experimental and calculated data is achieved by introducing additional decay of optical coherence induced by a finite laser line width and other broadening sources (stray electromagnetic fields, residual Doppler broadening, interatomic interactions) into the model.
The observation of the Stark-tuned F\"orster resonances between Rydberg atoms excited by narrowband cw laser radiation requires usage of a Stark-switching technique in order to excite the atoms first in a fixed electric field and then to induce the interactions in a varied electric field, which is scanned across the F\"orster resonance. In our experiments with a few cold Rb Rydberg atoms, we have found that the transients at the edges of the electric pulses strongly affect the line shapes of the F\"orster resonances, since the population transfer at the resonances occurs on a time scale of $\ensuremath{\sim}100$ ns, which is comparable with the duration of the transients. For example, a short-term ringing at a certain frequency causes additional radio-frequency-assisted F\"orster resonances, while nonsharp edges lead to asymmetry. The intentional application of the radio-frequency field induces transitions between collective states, whose line shape depends on the interaction strengths and time. Spatial averaging over the atom positions in a single interaction volume yields a cusped line shape of the F\"orster resonance. We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the line shape and time dynamics of the Stark-tuned F\"orster resonances $\mathrm{Rb}(n{P}_{3/2})+\mathrm{Rb}(n{P}_{3/2})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{Rb}(n{S}_{1/2})+\mathrm{Rb}([n+1]{S}_{1/2})$ for two Rb Rydberg atoms interacting in a time-varying electric field.