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.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 AAug 5, 201140 citations

Measurement of the dipole-dipole interaction of Rb nsnp states by microwave Ramsey interferometry

Hyunwook Park, Thomas F. Gallagher

We have used the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields to probe the dipole-dipole interaction of Rb $nsnp$ pair states of $33\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}41$. In the Ramsey method dipole-dipole broadening in an inhomogeneous sample is manifested as a decrease in the fringe contrast with increasing density. An attractive feature of this approach compared to conventional line broadening is that the effect of the dipole-dipole interaction can be seen near the center of the Ramsey interference pattern, where the signal is large, as opposed to in the wings, where it is small. We observe dipole-dipole broadening which scales as ${n}^{4}$ , in agreement with the calculated broadening. In addition, the Ramsey method points to the existence of $nsn{p}_{1/2}$ states which have no dipole-dipole shift.We have used the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields to probe the dipole-dipole interaction of Rb $nsnp$ pair states of $33\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}41$. In the Ramsey method dipole-dipole broadening in an inhomogeneous sample is manifested as a decrease in the fringe contrast with increasing density. An attractive feature of this approach compared to conventional line broadening is that the effect of the dipole-dipole interaction can be seen near the center of the Ramsey interference pattern, where the signal is large, as opposed to in the wings, where it is small. We observe dipole-dipole broadening which scales as ${n}^{4}$, in agreement with the calculated broadening. In addition, the Ramsey method points to the existence of $nsn{p}_{1/2}$ states which have no dipole-dipole shift.

Physical Review ANov 19, 20123 citations

Dipole–Dipole Interactions of Rydberg Atoms

Thomas F. Gallagher, P. Pillet

Advances in atomic, molecular, and optical physicsJan 1, 2008104 citations

Improved dipole transition strengths in Ba^+ from Ba Rydberg spectroscopy

Shannon L. Woods, S. R. Lundeen, Erica L. Snow

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 29, 20100 citations

Dipole-Dipole Broadening in

^{85}

Rb Rydberg Samples

{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.

We have used the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields to probe the dipole-dipole interaction of Rb

nsnp

pair states of $33\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}41$. In the Ramsey method dipole-dipole broadening in an inhomogeneous sample is manifested as a decrease in the fringe contrast with increasing density. An attractive feature of this approach compared to conventional line broadening is that the effect of the dipole-dipole interaction can be seen near the center of the Ramsey interference pattern, where the signal is large, as opposed to in the wings, where it is small. We observe dipole-dipole broadening which scales as

{n}^{4}

, in agreement with the calculated broadening. In addition, the Ramsey method points to the existence of

nsn{p}_{1/2}

states which have no dipole-dipole shift.