We analyze the influence of dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms on the generation of Abelian artificial gauge potentials and fields. When two Rydberg atoms are driven by a uniform laser field, we show that the combined atom-atom and atom-field interactions give rise to nonuniform, artificial gauge potentials. We identify the mechanism responsible for the emergence of these gauge potentials. Analytical expressions for the latter indicate that the strongest artificial magnetic fields are reached in the regime intermediate between the dipole blockade regime and the regime in which the atoms are sufficiently far apart such that atom-light interaction dominates over atom-atom interactions. We discuss the differences and similarities of artificial gauge fields originating from resonant dipole-dipole and van der Waals interactions. We also give an estimation of experimentally attainable artificial magnetic fields resulting from this mechanism and we discuss their detection through the deflection of the atomic motion.We analyze the influence of dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms on the generation of Abelian artificial gauge potentials and fields. When two Rydberg atoms are driven by a uniform laser field, we show that the combined atom-atom and atom-field interactions give rise to nonuniform, artificial gauge potentials. We identify the mechanism responsible for the emergence of these gauge potentials. Analytical expressions for the latter indicate that the strongest artificial magnetic fields are reached in the regime intermediate between the dipole blockade regime and the regime in which the atoms are sufficiently far apart such that atom-light interaction dominates over atom-atom interactions. We discuss the differences and similarities of artificial gauge fields originating from resonant dipole-dipole and van der Waals interactions. We also give an estimation of experimentally attainable artificial magnetic fields resulting from this mechanism and we discuss their detection through the deflection of the atomic motion.

arXiv:1309.2538Physical Review ADec 4, 20137 citations

Ionization of Rb Rydberg atoms in the attractive nsnp dipole-dipole potential

Hyunwook Park, E. S. Shuman, Thomas F. Gallagher

We have observed the ionization of a cold gas of Rb Rydberg atoms which occurs when $nsns$ van der Waals pairs of $ns$ atoms of $n\ensuremath{\approx}$ 40 on a weakly repulsive potential are transferred to an attractive dipole-dipole $nsnp$ potential by a microwave transition. Comparing the measurements to a simple model shows that the initial 300-$\ensuremath{\mu}$K thermal velocity of the atoms plays an important role. Excitation to a repulsive dipole-dipole potential does not lead to more ionization on a 15-$\ensuremath{\mu}$s time scale than leaving the atoms in the weakly repulsive $nsns$ state. This observation is slightly surprising since a radiative transition must occur to allow ionization in the latter case. Finally, by power broadening of the microwave transition, to allow transitions from the initial $nsns$ state to the $nsnp$ state over a broad range of internuclear spacings, it is possible to accelerate markedly the evolution to a plasma.We have observed the ionization of a cold gas of Rb Rydberg atoms which occurs when $nsns$ van der Waals pairs of $ns$ atoms of $n\ensuremath{\approx}$ 40 on a weakly repulsive potential are transferred to an attractive dipole-dipole $nsnp$ potential by a microwave transition. Comparing the measurements to a simple model shows that the initial 300-$\ensuremath{\mu}$K thermal velocity of the atoms plays an important role. Excitation to a repulsive dipole-dipole potential does not lead to more ionization on a 15-$\ensuremath{\mu}$s time scale than leaving the atoms in the weakly repulsive $nsns$ state. This observation is slightly surprising since a radiative transition must occur to allow ionization in the latter case. Finally, by power broadening of the microwave transition, to allow transitions from the initial $nsns$ state to the $nsnp$ state over a broad range of internuclear spacings, it is possible to accelerate markedly the evolution to a plasma.

Physical Review ANov 9, 201130 citations

Rydberg atom wavefunctions

Thomas F. Gallagher

Cambridge University Press eBooksSep 15, 19940 citations

Rydberg Atoms and Their Interactions

Kashif Ammar Yasir, Wu-Ming Liu

Springer series in solid-state sciencesJan 1, 20260 citations

Two-color photoassociation spectra of ultra-cold Cs (60D5/2)2 Rydberg molecule

Bai Jing-Xu, Xiaoxuan Han, Bai Su-Ying +3 more

The long-range multipole interactions between ultra-cold Rydberg atoms form adiabatic potentials, one of which shows a binding potential that can be used to bind Rydberg-Rydberg molecules. Rydberg-atom molecule, known as macrodimer due to its larger size (~μm), has the properties of the abundant vibrational energy levels and large electric dipole moment and so on. Compared with Rydberg atom, the Rydberg molecule, including Rydberg-ground molecule and Rydberg-Rydberg molecule, is susceptible to manipulate by an external field and possesses potential applications in the weak-signal detection, the quantum gas correlation measurement and the vacuum fluctuation and so on. In this paper, we investigate a (60D5/2)2 Rydberg macrodimer theoretically and experimentally. In the calculation, we take into account the multipole interaction of a Rydberg-atom pair, including dipole-dipole, dipole-quadrupole, dipole-octupole and quadrupole-quadrupole interaction and so on. The adiabatic potential of 60D5/2 Rydberg-atom pair is obtained by diagonalizing the interaction Hamiltonian on a grid of internuclear separations, R. The potential depth and binding length of the Rydberg molecular potential well are obtained. In experiment, we prepare the ultra-cold Cs (60D5/2)2 Rydberg molecules by a two-color photoassociation method in a cesium ultracold atom trap. The first-color (pulse-A) resonantly excites a seed Rydberg atom A, and the second color (pulse-B) is detuned and resonantly excites the second Rydberg atom B near to the atom A. Both pulse-A and pulse-B are two-photon excitations (852 nm + 510 nm), between which their 852-nm lasers have the same frequency, whereas the 510-nm laser frequency of the pulse-A is set to be resonant with the atomic transition and the frequency of the pulse-B is detuned by using a double-passed acousto-optic modulator. When the pulse-B is detuned to the molecular binding energy, atom-A and-B are bonded, forming an ultra-cold Cs (60D5/2)2 Rydberg molecule. The two-color photoassociation spectra of Rydberg-Rydberg molecules are detected by the field ionization of Rydberg atoms and molecules with a ramped electric field. Molecular spectra are compared with calculated adiabatic molecular potentials, which yields the binding energy and equilibrium internuclear distance. The two-color photoassociation method used in this work has a doubly resonant character that results in the enhanced excitation rate.The long-range multipole interactions between ultra-cold Rydberg atoms form adiabatic potentials, one of which shows a binding potential that can be used to bind Rydberg-Rydberg molecules. Rydberg-atom molecule, known as macrodimer due to its larger size (~μm), has the properties of the abundant vibrational energy levels and large electric dipole moment and so on. Compared with Rydberg atom, the Rydberg molecule, including Rydberg-ground molecule and Rydberg-Rydberg molecule, is susceptible to manipulate by an external field and possesses potential applications in the weak-signal detection, the quantum gas correlation measurement and the vacuum fluctuation and so on. In this paper, we investigate a (60D5/2)2 Rydberg macrodimer theoretically and experimentally. In the calculation, we take into account the multipole interaction of a Rydberg-atom pair, including dipole-dipole, dipole-quadrupole, dipole-octupole and quadrupole-quadrupole interaction and so on. The adiabatic potential of 60D5/2 Rydberg-atom pair is obtained by diagonalizing the interaction Hamiltonian on a grid of internuclear separations, R. The potential depth and binding length of the Rydberg molecular potential well are obtained. In experiment, we prepare the ultra-cold Cs (60D5/2)2 Rydberg molecules by a two-color photoassociation method in a cesium ultracold atom trap. The first-color (pulse-A) resonantly excites a seed Rydberg atom A, and the second color (pulse-B) is detuned and resonantly excites the second Rydberg atom B near to the atom A. Both pulse-A and pulse-B are two-photon excitations (852 nm + 510 nm), between which their 852-nm lasers have the same frequency, whereas the 510-nm laser frequency of the pulse-A is set to be resonant with the atomic transition and the frequency of the pulse-B is detuned by using a double-passed acousto-optic modulator. When the pulse-B is detuned to the molecular binding energy, atom-A and-B are bonded, forming an ultra-cold Cs (60D5/2)2 Rydberg molecule. The two-color photoassociation spectra of Rydberg-Rydberg molecules are detected by the field ionization of Rydberg atoms and molecules with a ramped electric field. Molecular spectra are compared with calculated adiabatic molecular potentials, which yields the binding energy and equilibrium internuclear distance. The two-color photoassociation method used in this work has a doubly resonant character that results in the enhanced excitation rate.

Acta Physica SinicaJan 1, 20180 citations

We have observed the ionization of a cold gas of Rb Rydberg atoms which occurs when

nsns

van der Waals pairs of

ns

atoms of $n\ensuremath{\approx}$ 40 on a weakly repulsive potential are transferred to an attractive dipole-dipole

nsnp

potential by a microwave transition. Comparing the measurements to a simple model shows that the initial 300-$\ensuremath{\mu}$K thermal velocity of the atoms plays an important role. Excitation to a repulsive dipole-dipole potential does not lead to more ionization on a 15-$\ensuremath{\mu}$s time scale than leaving the atoms in the weakly repulsive

nsns

state. This observation is slightly surprising since a radiative transition must occur to allow ionization in the latter case. Finally, by power broadening of the microwave transition, to allow transitions from the initial

nsns

state to the

nsnp

state over a broad range of internuclear spacings, it is possible to accelerate markedly the evolution to a plasma.