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:1209.4728 · Physical Review Letters

Spontaneous Avalanche Ionization of a Strongly Blockaded Rydberg Gas

Martin Robert-De-Saint-Vincent, C. S. Hofmann, H. Schempp, G. Günter, S. Whitlock, Matthias Weidemüller

Published Jan 24, 2013• 82 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report the sudden and spontaneous evolution of an initially correlated gas of repulsively interacting Rydberg atoms to an ultracold plasma. Under continuous laser coupling we create a Rydberg ensemble in the strong blockade regime, which at longer times undergoes an ionization avalanche. By combining optical imaging and ion detection, we access the full information on the dynamical evolution of the system, including the rapid increase in the number of ions and a sudden depletion of the Rydberg and ground state densities. Rydberg-Rydberg interactions are observed to strongly affect the dynamics of plasma formation. Using a coupled rate-equation model to describe our data, we extract the average energy of electrons trapped in the plasma, and an effective cross section for ionizing collisions between Rydberg atoms and atoms in low-lying states. Our results suggest that the initial correlations of the Rydberg ensemble should persist through the avalanche. This would provide the means to overcome disorder-induced heating, and offer a route to enter new strongly coupled regimes.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.110.045004

Related papers

The evolution from Rydberg gas to plasma in an atomic beam of Xe : with comparative simulations to a strongly blockaded Rydberg gas of Rb

Jachin Hung

We study a supersonic beam of cold, dense, xenon Rydberg atoms as it evolves to an ultracold plasma. At early times, while the free electron density is low, d-series Rydbergs atoms undergo long-range ℓ-mixing collisions producing states of high orbital angular momentum. These high-ℓ states drive dipole-dipole interactions where Penning ionization provides a seed of electrons in a cloud of Rydberg atoms excited into the 51d state. The electron density increases and reaches the threshold for avalanche into plasma at 25 μs. After 90 μs the plasma becomes fully formed developing rigidity to a 432 V/cm ionizing field as well as sensitivity to a weak 500 mV/cm field. A shell model was developed to understand the dynamics behind this process. In addition, in collaboration with the Weidemüller group, a model was developed using Penning ionization to seed the spontaneous avalanche of a cloud of strongly blockaded Rydberg atoms in a MOT.

•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

Emergence of correlations in strongly interacting ultracold Rydberg gases

C. S. Hofmann

This thesis experimentally explores the application of strongly interacting states of Rydberg atoms as means to introduce and control correlations in many-body systems. A new apparatus has been built, which combines high atomic densities possible using optical dipole traps with the ability to detect and probe Rydberg atoms via both field ionization detection and electromagnetically induced transparency. In the first study, the interaction induced excitation of Rydberg atom pairs ('antiblockade') is demonstrated using detuned laser excitation. This provides \nthe possibility to engineer spatial correlations and to control interactions between Rydberg atoms. We then investigate the effects of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions \nand correlations on the spontaneous evolution of the system to an ultracold plasma. The initial correlations between Rydberg atoms should be preserved, suggesting a new route to overcome disorder-induced heating and to enter new strongly coupled regimes. Finally the back-action of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions on propagating light fields is explored. Dissipative interactions between dark-state polaritons give rise to a strongly nonlinear optical response and sub-Poissonian statistics of polaritons \nwhich reflect the emergence of correlations in both the atomic and light fields. Combined, these experiments help elucidate the effects of Rydberg induced correlations on diverse physical systems involving atoms, ions and photons.

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

Evolution of Cold Rydberg Atoms into an Ultracold Plasma

Thomas F. Gallagher

Cold dense samples of Rydberg atoms spontaneously evolve into ultracold plasmas. Initially some cold ions are formed by black body photo ionization and collisions, and they trap electrons freed later. It appears that these trapped electrons initiate an avalanche of ionization of the remaining Rydberg atoms. How quickly the avalanche occurs is determined in part by how rapidly energy is supplied to the system.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2002•1 citation

Spontaneous evolution of Cs 47D Rydberg atoms at different fine levels

Duan Jun-Yi, Yong Wang, Linjie Zhang +3 more

The spontaneous evolution from Rydberg atoms in different fine states to plasmas is investigated. Two-photon excitation is used to excite ultracold cesium atoms from 6S1/2 to 47D3/2 and 47D5/2 Rydberg states, respectively. The ramp electric field is used to ionize the Rydberg atoms and drive the ions to the micro-channel plate detector. In this experiment, The atom number of 47D5/2 state, which has a high oscillator strength compared with 47D3/2, is about 7 times larger than that of 47D3/2 state. Based on the different initial atom numbers of two fine states, the evolutions of plasma and Rydberg atoms are observed. The initial ionization time of Rydberg atoms and avalanche ionization rate of different states are presented. The initial ionization of Rydberg atoms is ascribed to the combining effect of state transfer from repulsive interaction to attractive interaction induced by the blackbody radiation and superradiation and Rydberg atoms collision. Moreover, the avalanche ionization and production of plasma are explained as being due to the rapid collision between Rydberg atoms and electrons in a local potential trap produced by positive ions.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

Dissipative dynamics of atomic and molecular Rydberg gases: Avalanche to ultracold plasma states of strong coupling

M. Aghigh, K. M. Grant, Rafael Haenel +8 more

Abstract Not long after metastable xenon was photoionized in a magneto-optical trap, groups in Europe and North America found that similar states of ionized gas evolved spontaneously from state-selected, high principal quantum number Rydberg gases. Studies of atomic xenon and molecular nitric oxide entrained in a supersonically cooled molecular beam subsequently showed much the same final state evolved from a sequence of prompt Penning ionization and electron-impact avalanche to plasma, well-described by coupled rate-equation simulations. But, measured over longer times, the molecular ultracold plasma was found to exhibit an anomalous combination of very long lifetime and very low apparent electron temperature. This review first summarizes early developments in the general study of ultracold plasmas formed by atomic and molecular Rydberg gases, and then turns to describe the particular properties of the nitric oxide molecular ultracold plasma that appear to call for an explanation beyond the realm of conventional plasma physics.

arXiv:1908.07633•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Dec 11, 2019•13 citations

Self-organization in the avalanche, quench and dissipation of a molecular ultracold plasma

Kevin L. Marroquin, Ruyang Wang, Amin Allahverdian +6 more

Spontaneous avalanche to plasma begins in the core of an ellipsoidal Rydberg gas of nitric oxide. Ambipolar expansion of NO $^+$ draws energy from avalanche-heated electrons. Then, cycles of long-range resonant electron transfer from Rydberg molecules to ions equalize their relative velocities. This sequence of steps gives rise to a remarkable mechanics of self-assembly, in which the kinetic energy of initially formed hot electrons and ions drives an observed separation of plasma volumes. These dynamics adiabatically sequester energy in a reservoir of mass transport, starting a process that anneals separating volumes to form an apparent glass of strongly coupled ions and electrons. Short-time electron spectroscopy provides experimental evidence for complete ionization. The long lifetime of this system, particularly its stability with respect to recombination and neutral dissociation, suggests that this transformation affords a robust state of arrested relaxation, far from thermal equilibrium. We see this most directly in the excitation spectrum of transitions to states in the initially selected Rydberg series, detected as the long-lived signal that survives a flight time of $500\ \mathrm {\mu }$ s to reach an imaging detector. The initial density of electrons produced by prompt Penning ionization, which varies with the selected initial principal quantum number and density of the Rydberg gas, determines a balance between the rising density of ions and the falling density of Rydberg molecules. This Penning-regulated ion-Rydberg molecule balance appears necessary as a critical factor in achieving the long ultracold plasma lifetime to produce spectral features detected after very long delays.

Journal of Plasma Physics•Jan 17, 2024•3 citations
We report the sudden and spontaneous evolution of an initially correlated gas of repulsively interacting Rydberg atoms to an ultracold plasma. Under continuous laser coupling we create a Rydberg ensemble in the strong blockade regime, which at longer times undergoes an ionization avalanche. By combining optical imaging and ion detection, we access the full information on the dynamical evolution of the system, including the rapid increase in the number of ions and a sudden depletion of the Rydberg and ground state densities. Rydberg-Rydberg interactions are observed to strongly affect the dynamics of plasma formation. Using a coupled rate-equation model to describe our data, we extract the average energy of electrons trapped in the plasma, and an effective cross section for ionizing collisions between Rydberg atoms and atoms in low-lying states. Our results suggest that the initial correlations of the Rydberg ensemble should persist through the avalanche. This would provide the means to overcome disorder-induced heating, and offer a route to enter new strongly coupled regimes.
We study a supersonic beam of cold, dense, xenon Rydberg atoms as it evolves to an ultracold plasma. At early times, while the free electron density is low, d-series Rydbergs atoms undergo long-range ℓ-mixing collisions producing states of high orbital angular momentum. These high-ℓ states drive dipole-dipole interactions where Penning ionization provides a seed of electrons in a cloud of Rydberg atoms excited into the 51d state. The electron density increases and reaches the threshold for avalanche into plasma at 25 μs. After 90 μs the plasma becomes fully formed developing rigidity to a 432 V/cm ionizing field as well as sensitivity to a weak 500 mV/cm field. A shell model was developed to understand the dynamics behind this process. In addition, in collaboration with the Weidemüller group, a model was developed using Penning ionization to seed the spontaneous avalanche of a cloud of strongly blockaded Rydberg atoms in a MOT.
This thesis experimentally explores the application of strongly interacting states of Rydberg atoms as means to introduce and control correlations in many-body systems. A new apparatus has been built, which combines high atomic densities possible using optical dipole traps with the ability to detect and probe Rydberg atoms via both field ionization detection and electromagnetically induced transparency. In the first study, the interaction induced excitation of Rydberg atom pairs ('antiblockade') is demonstrated using detuned laser excitation. This provides \nthe possibility to engineer spatial correlations and to control interactions between Rydberg atoms. We then investigate the effects of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions \nand correlations on the spontaneous evolution of the system to an ultracold plasma. The initial correlations between Rydberg atoms should be preserved, suggesting a new route to overcome disorder-induced heating and to enter new strongly coupled regimes. Finally the back-action of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions on propagating light fields is explored. Dissipative interactions between dark-state polaritons give rise to a strongly nonlinear optical response and sub-Poissonian statistics of polaritons \nwhich reflect the emergence of correlations in both the atomic and light fields. Combined, these experiments help elucidate the effects of Rydberg induced correlations on diverse physical systems involving atoms, ions and photons.
The spontaneous evolution from Rydberg atoms in different fine states to plasmas is investigated. Two-photon excitation is used to excite ultracold cesium atoms from 6S1/2 to 47D3/2 and 47D5/2 Rydberg states, respectively. The ramp electric field is used to ionize the Rydberg atoms and drive the ions to the micro-channel plate detector. In this experiment, The atom number of 47D5/2 state, which has a high oscillator strength compared with 47D3/2, is about 7 times larger than that of 47D3/2 state. Based on the different initial atom numbers of two fine states, the evolutions of plasma and Rydberg atoms are observed. The initial ionization time of Rydberg atoms and avalanche ionization rate of different states are presented. The initial ionization of Rydberg atoms is ascribed to the combining effect of state transfer from repulsive interaction to attractive interaction induced by the blackbody radiation and superradiation and Rydberg atoms collision. Moreover, the avalanche ionization and production of plasma are explained as being due to the rapid collision between Rydberg atoms and electrons in a local potential trap produced by positive ions.
Abstract Not long after metastable xenon was photoionized in a magneto-optical trap, groups in Europe and North America found that similar states of ionized gas evolved spontaneously from state-selected, high principal quantum number Rydberg gases. Studies of atomic xenon and molecular nitric oxide entrained in a supersonically cooled molecular beam subsequently showed much the same final state evolved from a sequence of prompt Penning ionization and electron-impact avalanche to plasma, well-described by coupled rate-equation simulations. But, measured over longer times, the molecular ultracold plasma was found to exhibit an anomalous combination of very long lifetime and very low apparent electron temperature. This review first summarizes early developments in the general study of ultracold plasmas formed by atomic and molecular Rydberg gases, and then turns to describe the particular properties of the nitric oxide molecular ultracold plasma that appear to call for an explanation beyond the realm of conventional plasma physics.
Spontaneous avalanche to plasma begins in the core of an ellipsoidal Rydberg gas of nitric oxide. Ambipolar expansion of NO +^++ draws energy from avalanche-heated electrons. Then, cycles of long-range resonant electron transfer from Rydberg molecules to ions equalize their relative velocities. This sequence of steps gives rise to a remarkable mechanics of self-assembly, in which the kinetic energy of initially formed hot electrons and ions drives an observed separation of plasma volumes. These dynamics adiabatically sequester energy in a reservoir of mass transport, starting a process that anneals separating volumes to form an apparent glass of strongly coupled ions and electrons. Short-time electron spectroscopy provides experimental evidence for complete ionization. The long lifetime of this system, particularly its stability with respect to recombination and neutral dissociation, suggests that this transformation affords a robust state of arrested relaxation, far from thermal equilibrium. We see this most directly in the excitation spectrum of transitions to states in the initially selected Rydberg series, detected as the long-lived signal that survives a flight time of 500 μ500\ \mathrm {\mu }500 μ s to reach an imaging detector. The initial density of electrons produced by prompt Penning ionization, which varies with the selected initial principal quantum number and density of the Rydberg gas, determines a balance between the rising density of ions and the falling density of Rydberg molecules. This Penning-regulated ion-Rydberg molecule balance appears necessary as a critical factor in achieving the long ultracold plasma lifetime to produce spectral features detected after very long delays.