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:1411.6181 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Stark effect in the nonuniform field and its influence on the fine structure of Rydberg blockade

Yurii V. Dumin

Published May 27, 2015• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Splitting the energy levels of a hydrogen-like atom by the electric field nonuniform at the atomic scale is studied. This situation is important for the multi-level treatment of the phenomenon of Rydberg blockade (Dumin Y V 2014 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 47 175502 ). An explicit formula for the energy levels is derived. A typical value of the energy shift by the electric field gradient turns out to be proportional to the fourth power of the principal quantum number (i.e. the square of atomic size), as would be expected from a qualitative consideration. Finally, the fine spatial structure of the Rydberg blockade is analyzed when the electric-field-gradient term plays the dominant role, and the results are compared with the experimental data.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/48/13/135002

Related papers

On the Theory of the Stark Effect in Hydrogenic Atoms

Vladimir Rojansky

The Stark effect of the fine structure of hydrogenic atoms is discussed in the light of the quantum mechanics. Explicit formulas are given for the energy levels in either a weak or a strong electric field, including in each case both the relativity corrections and the Stark effect. (The conventional treatment neglects either one or the other.) The results are, except in form, similar to those recently given by Schlapp. In the new mechanics, in contradistinction to the old Bohr theory, there is a linear Stark effect even in weak fields, because of the identity of energy for the $\mathrm{ns}$ and $n{p}_{1}$ levels in the absence of external fields. This degeneracy is shown to account for the results of the recent experiments of Ornstein, Zernike, and Snoek, who found that the $2s$ level in $H$ is not metastable.The coefficients are found for the development of the "parabolic" eigenfunctions in terms of the "polar" ones, and a set of numerical values of these coefficients is tabulated.Methods are given for the calculation of the relative intensities in the Stark effect in terms of the already available theoretical fine structure intensities in the absence of fields.

Physical Review•Jan 1, 1929•43 citations

On the Effect of Interatomic Interactions on the Efficiency of the Rydberg Blockade

Yu. V. Dumin

Abstract The process of the Rydberg blockade, which is currently regarded as one of the most promising approaches to quantum computation, can become significantly less effective due to interatomic interactions that shift the excitation frequency of initially blocked particles to the region of resonance with external laser radiation. In this article, we develop an analytical theory of this effect based on a self-consistent model of two Rydberg atoms acting on each other with their dipole electric fields and experiencing a Stark splitting of energy levels under the action of these fields. It follows from our calculations that the typical interatomic distances at which the unblocking effect due to ‘‘parasitic’’ resonances begins to occur are in rough agreement with earlier qualitative estimates; however, the number of such resonances can be much larger than in recent numerical simulations of some particular systems. Therefore, the possibility of breaking the Rydberg blockade at small interatomic distances should be carefully taken into account in any future applications to quantum computing.

Moscow University Physics Bulletin•Nov 1, 2021•0 citations

Spatial and temporal correlations in cold Rydberg gases

Markus Stecker

Rydberg atoms, i.e. atoms with one or more highly excited electrons, show exaggerated properties compared to ground state atoms. For example, their energy levels are very sensitive to external electric fields (Stark effect) and they exhibit strong interatomic interactions, which can lead to a suppression of excitation known as the Rydberg blockade. The latter property makes Rydberg atoms promising candidates for quantum simulation and quantum computing. This work describes the direct observation of the excitation blockade for highly Stark-shifted Rydberg atoms induced by controllable dipole-dipole interactions. We investigate the electric field region around and above the classical ionization threshold, which is typically not considered suitable for blockade experiments. We excite Rydberg atoms in the energy region corresponding to the unperturbed 43S1/2 state at electric fields around 127V/cm out of a magneto-optically trapped cloud of 87Rb atoms with a temperature of 150 μK. We tune the dipole-dipole interaction by the applied electric field thus changing the electric dipole moment of the excited state. The position of the Rydberg atoms is detected by ionization and subsequent ion imaging; the controlled ionization of the atoms is achieved by adiabatic transfer of the Rydberg state to an ionizing state. For the spatially resolved detection of the atoms, a high resolution ion microscope for cold atoms has been developed and experimentally characterized. It features a maximum magnification of 1000 and sub-micrometer spatial resolution. A theoretical treatment of highly Stark-shifted Rydberg states is developed introducing a complex absorbing potential. It is capable of predicting the ionization rates of the Rydberg states for a wide range of electric fields and energies with only one free parameter. Together with the numerical calculations, measurements of the ionization spectra for different Rydberg states are presented. The 43S1/2 state is measured in an electric-field range from 125V/cm to 165V/cm (classical ionization limit 127V/cm), the 70S1/2 state in an electric-field range from 15V/cm to 35V/cm (classical ionization limit 16.1V/cm) and the 100S1/2 state in an electric-field range from 7V/cm to 19V/cm (classical ionization limit 3.7V/cm). Our results show an intricate energy level structure with broad, strongly ionizing states as well as sharp, nearly non-ionizing states. The numerical calculations are also used for the prediction of selective field ionization spectra and the results are used to identify Förster resonances in the Stark spectrum of the 45D5/2 state. Complementary to the spatially resolved measurements in high electric fields, the Rydberg blockade effect is also observed via the excitation number statistics at Förster resonances.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Stark structure of atomic gallium

Dong Hui-Jie, Wang Xin-Yu, Changyong Li +1 more

The Stark effect in Rydberg atoms has potential applications in the areas of dipole-dipole interaction, quantum information, quantum control, and so on. Many reflevant theoretical calculations and experimental studies about the Stark effect of alkali metal and alkali earth metals have been reported, but the other atom’s Stark effect is studied still relatively less. Our goal in this paper is to reflearch the third main group atom’s Stark effect in a large electric field. First, according to the level data of gallium atom in zero-field, we obtain the quantum defects from the modified Ritz formula in each state by using a nonlinear least-squares-fitting algorithm. The quantum defects as a function of the principal quantum number are analyzed in detail. Influences of both the core polarization and the penetrating valence electron on the quantum defect are discussed according to the fitting results. Then we use the Numerov algorithm to calculate the radial wave functions of atomic gallium. Finally, the Stark structures of Rydberg states around n=7 and n=18 are numerically calculated by matrix diagonalization. Results show that at the levels above n=7 manifold states, (n+1)P is higher than nD state, and it is in contrast to the levels below the n=7 manifold states. This phenomenon is different from the usual Stark structure of alkali metal atoms, the level’s order of which does not change with the principal quantum number. The Stark levels with the identical |m| anti-cross each other, and those with different |m| cross. Our results give an important reflerence for related reflearches, and are of great significance for insight into the atomic structure and the interaction between the atomic core and the highly excited electrons.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2015•4 citations

Fine structure of the Rydberg blockade zone

Yurii V Dumin

A spatial structure of the zone blocked by the dipolar electric field of a Rydberg atom is calculated taking into account a possibility of excitation to the states with neighboring values of the principal quantum number. As a result, it was found that the blocked zone represents a number of co-centric spherical shells rather than a solid ball, and the respective pair correlation function should have additional maxima at small interparticle distances.

arXiv:1312.7865•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Aug 21, 2014•5 citations

Structure of Sodium Rydberg States in Weak to Strong Electric Fields

Michael G. Littman, Myron L. Zimmerman, Theodore W. Ducas +2 more

We present results of an experimental survey of the $n=15$ state of Na in electric fields from 0 to 4 kV/cm. Both linear and higher-order Stark effects play important roles. States with low $|m|$ show marked differences from hydrogenic behavior, particularly in the vicinity of level crossings. Computed values for the energy levels are in good agreement with the data. The experimental method provides a simple technique for populating selected Stark or angular momentum levels of a Rydberg state.

Physical Review Letters•Apr 5, 1976•112 citations
Abstract Splitting the energy levels of a hydrogen-like atom by the electric field nonuniform at the atomic scale is studied. This situation is important for the multi-level treatment of the phenomenon of Rydberg blockade (Dumin Y V 2014 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 47 175502 ). An explicit formula for the energy levels is derived. A typical value of the energy shift by the electric field gradient turns out to be proportional to the fourth power of the principal quantum number (i.e. the square of atomic size), as would be expected from a qualitative consideration. Finally, the fine spatial structure of the Rydberg blockade is analyzed when the electric-field-gradient term plays the dominant role, and the results are compared with the experimental data.
The Stark effect of the fine structure of hydrogenic atoms is discussed in the light of the quantum mechanics. Explicit formulas are given for the energy levels in either a weak or a strong electric field, including in each case both the relativity corrections and the Stark effect. (The conventional treatment neglects either one or the other.) The results are, except in form, similar to those recently given by Schlapp. In the new mechanics, in contradistinction to the old Bohr theory, there is a linear Stark effect even in weak fields, because of the identity of energy for the ns\mathrm{ns}ns and np1n{p}_{1}np1​ levels in the absence of external fields. This degeneracy is shown to account for the results of the recent experiments of Ornstein, Zernike, and Snoek, who found that the 2s2s2s level in HHH is not metastable.The coefficients are found for the development of the "parabolic" eigenfunctions in terms of the "polar" ones, and a set of numerical values of these coefficients is tabulated.Methods are given for the calculation of the relative intensities in the Stark effect in terms of the already available theoretical fine structure intensities in the absence of fields.
Abstract The process of the Rydberg blockade, which is currently regarded as one of the most promising approaches to quantum computation, can become significantly less effective due to interatomic interactions that shift the excitation frequency of initially blocked particles to the region of resonance with external laser radiation. In this article, we develop an analytical theory of this effect based on a self-consistent model of two Rydberg atoms acting on each other with their dipole electric fields and experiencing a Stark splitting of energy levels under the action of these fields. It follows from our calculations that the typical interatomic distances at which the unblocking effect due to ‘‘parasitic’’ resonances begins to occur are in rough agreement with earlier qualitative estimates; however, the number of such resonances can be much larger than in recent numerical simulations of some particular systems. Therefore, the possibility of breaking the Rydberg blockade at small interatomic distances should be carefully taken into account in any future applications to quantum computing.
Rydberg atoms, i.e. atoms with one or more highly excited electrons, show exaggerated properties compared to ground state atoms. For example, their energy levels are very sensitive to external electric fields (Stark effect) and they exhibit strong interatomic interactions, which can lead to a suppression of excitation known as the Rydberg blockade. The latter property makes Rydberg atoms promising candidates for quantum simulation and quantum computing. This work describes the direct observation of the excitation blockade for highly Stark-shifted Rydberg atoms induced by controllable dipole-dipole interactions. We investigate the electric field region around and above the classical ionization threshold, which is typically not considered suitable for blockade experiments. We excite Rydberg atoms in the energy region corresponding to the unperturbed 43S1/2 state at electric fields around 127V/cm out of a magneto-optically trapped cloud of 87Rb atoms with a temperature of 150 μK. We tune the dipole-dipole interaction by the applied electric field thus changing the electric dipole moment of the excited state. The position of the Rydberg atoms is detected by ionization and subsequent ion imaging; the controlled ionization of the atoms is achieved by adiabatic transfer of the Rydberg state to an ionizing state. For the spatially resolved detection of the atoms, a high resolution ion microscope for cold atoms has been developed and experimentally characterized. It features a maximum magnification of 1000 and sub-micrometer spatial resolution. A theoretical treatment of highly Stark-shifted Rydberg states is developed introducing a complex absorbing potential. It is capable of predicting the ionization rates of the Rydberg states for a wide range of electric fields and energies with only one free parameter. Together with the numerical calculations, measurements of the ionization spectra for different Rydberg states are presented. The 43S1/2 state is measured in an electric-field range from 125V/cm to 165V/cm (classical ionization limit 127V/cm), the 70S1/2 state in an electric-field range from 15V/cm to 35V/cm (classical ionization limit 16.1V/cm) and the 100S1/2 state in an electric-field range from 7V/cm to 19V/cm (classical ionization limit 3.7V/cm). Our results show an intricate energy level structure with broad, strongly ionizing states as well as sharp, nearly non-ionizing states. The numerical calculations are also used for the prediction of selective field ionization spectra and the results are used to identify Förster resonances in the Stark spectrum of the 45D5/2 state. Complementary to the spatially resolved measurements in high electric fields, the Rydberg blockade effect is also observed via the excitation number statistics at Förster resonances.
The Stark effect in Rydberg atoms has potential applications in the areas of dipole-dipole interaction, quantum information, quantum control, and so on. Many reflevant theoretical calculations and experimental studies about the Stark effect of alkali metal and alkali earth metals have been reported, but the other atom’s Stark effect is studied still relatively less. Our goal in this paper is to reflearch the third main group atom’s Stark effect in a large electric field. First, according to the level data of gallium atom in zero-field, we obtain the quantum defects from the modified Ritz formula in each state by using a nonlinear least-squares-fitting algorithm. The quantum defects as a function of the principal quantum number are analyzed in detail. Influences of both the core polarization and the penetrating valence electron on the quantum defect are discussed according to the fitting results. Then we use the Numerov algorithm to calculate the radial wave functions of atomic gallium. Finally, the Stark structures of Rydberg states around n=7 and n=18 are numerically calculated by matrix diagonalization. Results show that at the levels above n=7 manifold states, (n+1)P is higher than nD state, and it is in contrast to the levels below the n=7 manifold states. This phenomenon is different from the usual Stark structure of alkali metal atoms, the level’s order of which does not change with the principal quantum number. The Stark levels with the identical |m| anti-cross each other, and those with different |m| cross. Our results give an important reflerence for related reflearches, and are of great significance for insight into the atomic structure and the interaction between the atomic core and the highly excited electrons.
We present results of an experimental survey of the n=15n=15n=15 state of Na in electric fields from 0 to 4 kV/cm. Both linear and higher-order Stark effects play important roles. States with low ∣m∣|m|∣m∣ show marked differences from hydrogenic behavior, particularly in the vicinity of level crossings. Computed values for the energy levels are in good agreement with the data. The experimental method provides a simple technique for populating selected Stark or angular momentum levels of a Rydberg state.