arXiv:1712.09879 · Physical Review A

Emergence of spatial order in highly interacting Rydberg gases

João D. Rodrigues, Hugo Terças, Luís F. Gonçalves, Luís Gustavo Marcassa, José Tito Mendonça

Published Feb 22, 2018• 1 citation

Abstract

We describe the emergence of strong spatial correlations, akin to liquidlike behavior and crystallization effects, in low- (one- and two-)dimensional gases of cold Rydberg atoms. The presence of an external electric field permanently polarizes the atoms, which became highly correlated due to the long-range dipole-dipole interaction. We describe a theoretical approach particularly suited for strongly coupled systems and numerically obtain both the two-particle distribution function and the static structure factor. The experimental implementation of such highly interacting systems is discussed, including detailed calculations of the interaction strength for different Rydberg states. The results provide insights into many-body effects associated with strongly interacting Rydberg atoms, including the possibility of observing highly ordered phases.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.97.022708

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