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Physical Review Letters

Rydberg Cold Collisions Dominated by Ultralong Range Potential

A. L. de Oliveira, M. W. Mancini, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, Luís Gustavo Marcassa

Published Apr 10, 2003• 49 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this work we measure the time evolution of the population resulting from energy-transfer collisions as a function of the energy difference between the entrance and exit collisional channels using a sample of cold Rydberg atoms produced in a rubidium magneto-optical trap. The 34S(1/2) population, produced by collisions between atoms in the 33P(3/2) state, is monitored as a function of time through the pulsed-field ionization technique. The experimental results are compared with a recent published model based on a two-body interaction considering an attractive potential [Phys. Rev. A 65, 023405 (2002)]]; which is calculated according to a recent Letter by Boisseau et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 133004 (2002)]]. The agreement is remarkable, which suggests the existence of such ultralong range potential proposed by Boisseau et al.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.90.143002

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In this work we measure the time evolution of the population resulting from energy-transfer collisions as a function of the energy difference between the entrance and exit collisional channels using a sample of cold Rydberg atoms produced in a rubidium magneto-optical trap. The 34S(1/2) population, produced by collisions between atoms in the 33P(3/2) state, is monitored as a function of time through the pulsed-field ionization technique. The experimental results are compared with a recent published model based on a two-body interaction considering an attractive potential [Phys. Rev. A 65, 023405 (2002)]]; which is calculated according to a recent Letter by Boisseau et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 133004 (2002)]]. The agreement is remarkable, which suggests the existence of such ultralong range potential proposed by Boisseau et al.
In this work we probe the time dynamics of a collisional process involving energy transfer in a sample of cold Rydberg atoms produced in a rubidium magneto-optical trap. The 31S1/2{31S}_{1/2}31S1/2​ population, produced by collisions between the 29P3/2{29P}_{3/2}29P3/2​ and 29P1/2,3/2{29P}_{1/2,3/2}29P1/2,3/2​ states, is monitored as a function of time through the pulsed-field ionization technique. The experimental results were compared with a dynamic model based on a two-body interaction using a 1/R5{1/R}^{5}1/R5 potential. The model can reproduce well the time evolution of this collisional process. We are also able to explain the large electric-field range over which inelastic collisions are possible based on the existence of thresholds where collisional channels open and close.
In a previous Letter by Oliveira et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 143002 (2003)], the time evolution of the 34S1∕234{S}_{1∕2}34S1∕2​ population, resulting from energy-transfer collisions between 33P3∕2+33P3∕233{P}_{3∕2}+33{P}_{3∕2}33P3∕2​+33P3∕2​ Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap, was explained based on an ultralong-range potential. However, some experimental oscillations observed in the signal could not be reproduced by that model. In this work we reanalyze such a experimental results considering an internuclear separation-dependent colliding atomic pair distribution. This analysis suggests that such a distribution in the ultralong-range Rydberg molecular potential is responsible for the observed oscillations.
In a recent letter Li et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 173001 (2005)] have studied experimentally the role of dipole-dipole interactions in the ionization of Rydberg atoms and the formation of a cold plasma. The authors associated their observations with atomic motion due to such interaction. In this work, we adapt the dynamical model proposed by De Oliveira et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 143002 (2003)] based on a two atom interaction, which reproduce qualitatively well some experimental results observed by Li and co-workers. This comparison presents clear evidences of motion in such ultralong range potential between cold-Rydberg atoms, which may be important for some applications, as quantum computation.
Summary form only given. Collisions with Rydberg atoms have been studied in depth both theoretically and experimentally in recent decades. One well-known collisional process involving two Rydberg atoms is called energy transfer collision, which has a unique characteristic, i.e., its cross-section can be tuned by a static electric field via the Stark effect. This collisional process has been studied with several alkalis, using thermal atoms deriving from an atomic beam. This thermal source, however, has some disadvantages. With the advent of the magneto-optical trap (MOT), cold samples of atoms can now be produced very simply. Several groups have recently succeeded in producing cold samples of Rydberg atoms in a MOT and have observed collisional processes. This achievement has opened up an entirely new field, in which several different experiments can be carried out. This paper reports, for the first time, on a time evolution experiment of energy transfer collisions using cold Rydberg atoms in a MOT.
In this work we study in details a sample of Rydberg atoms in a magnetooptical trapo We measured the lifetime of S, P and D 85 Rb Rydberg states for principal quantum number 31 < n < 45, by the pulsed field ionization technique.Our measurements were performed at low density regime, so that collisional and superradiance effects were suppressed.From the obtained results we studied the time evolution of resonant transfer collisions, as a function of the energy difference between the entrance and exit collisional channels.Comparisons with Lhe theory were performed using a semi-classical model, developed by us based on binary interactions.Such a model was able to explain very well, qualitatively and quantitatively the experimental observations.
We have measured the radiative lifetimes of ns, np and nd Rydberg states of rubidium in the range 28 < n < 45. To enable long-lived states to be measured, our experiment uses slow-moving Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Two experimental techniques have been adopted to reduce random and systematic errors. First, a narrow-bandwidth pulsed laser is used to excite the target Rydberg state, resulting in minimal shot-to-shot variation in the initial state population. Second, we monitor the target state population as a function of time delay from the laser pulse using a short-duration, millimetre-wave pulse that is resonant with a one- or two-photon transition. We then selectively field ionize the monitor state, and detect the resulting electrons with a micro-channel plate. This signal is an accurate mirror of the target state population, and is uncontaminated by contributions from other states which are populated by black body radiation. Our results are generally consistent with other recent experimental results obtained using a less sensitive method, and are also in excellent agreement with theory.