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Physical Review A

Interaction of blackbody radiation with xenon Rydberg atoms

G. F. Hildebrandt, Edward J. Beiting, C. Higgs, G. J. Hatton, K. A. Smith, F. B. Dunning, R. F. Stebbings

Published Jun 1, 1981• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Effects due to the interaction of 300 K background radiation with $\mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{nf})$ Rydberg atoms are reported. Transitions to nearby $d$ and $g$ levels are observed. When the ambient photon density is reduced to that appropriate to liquid-nitrogen temperature by cooling the apparatus, a corresponding reduction in the transition rates to these levels is observed. The transition rates are found to be consistent with those predicted by use of quantum-defect theory.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.23.2978

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Transitions between energetically close-lying Rydberg states are characterized by large electric dipole matrix elements and frequencies low enough that at room temperature the photon occupation number is \ensuremath{\simeq} 10. Consequently the absorption of blackbody radiation and the stimulated emission produced by it lead to an efficient redistribution of population among nearby levels. In some cases dramatic effects are observed, for example, radiative lifetimes that are shortened to a small fraction of their $T=0$ values. In addition, the 300-K blackbody field of \ensuremath{\sim}10 V/cm produces ac Stark shifts of the Rydberg levels. Calculations of the population redistribution effects and ac Stark shifts are presented. Examples are given to illustrate that care must be taken in experiments with highly excited atoms to ensure that only one state is being observed rather than a distribution.

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We have studied ionization of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation (BBR). The results of theoretical calculations of ionization rates of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs Rydberg atoms are presented. The calculations have been performed for n S, n P and n D states for principal quantum numbers n =8–65 at ambient temperatures of 77, 300 and 600 K. The calculations take into account the contributions of BBR-induced redistribution of population between Rydberg states prior to photoionization and field ionization by extraction electric field pulses. The obtained results show that these phenomena affect both the magnitude of the measured ionization rates and their n dependence. A Cooper minimum for BBR-induced transitions between bound Rydberg states of Li has been found. The calculated ionization rates are compared with our earlier measurements of BBR-induced ionization rates of Na n S and n D Rydberg states with n =8–20 at 300 K. Good agreement for all states except n S with n >15 is observed. Useful analytical formulae for quick estimates of BBR ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. Application of BBR-induced ionization signal to measurements of collisional ionization rates is demonstrated.

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Observation of energy level shifts of Rydberg atoms due to thermal fields. Final report

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The authors report the first observation of level shifts of Rydberg states due to their coupling with thermal radiation fields. The Rydberg level positions were measured relative to the atomic ground state using two photon optical Ramsey fringe techniques in an atomic beam apparatus. The level shifts were isolated by chopping the blackbody radiation source. The runs analyzed are consistent with the expected T sup 2 dependence and much data remains to be analyzed.

•Oct 1, 1983•0 citations

Ionization of Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation

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We have studied ionization of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation (BBR). The results of theoretical calculations of ionization rates of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs Rydberg atoms are presented. The calculations have been performed for nS, nP and nD states for principal quantum numbers n=8-65 at ambient temperatures of 77, 300 and 600 K. The calculations take into account the contributions of BBR-induced redistribution of population between Rydberg states prior to photoionization and field ionization by extraction electric field pulses. The obtained results show that these phenomena affect both the magnitude of the measured ionization rates and their n-dependence. A Cooper minimum for BBR-induced transitions between bound Rydberg states of Li has been found. The calculated ionization rates are compared with our earlier measurements of BBR-induced ionization rates of Na nS and nD Rydberg states with n=8-20 at 300 K. A good agreement for all states except nS with n> 15 is observed. Useful analytical formulas for quick estimates of BBR ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. Application of BBR-induced ionization signal to

•Nov 26, 2012•55 citations
Effects due to the interaction of 300 K background radiation with Xe(nf)\mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{nf})Xe(nf) Rydberg atoms are reported. Transitions to nearby ddd and ggg levels are observed. When the ambient photon density is reduced to that appropriate to liquid-nitrogen temperature by cooling the apparatus, a corresponding reduction in the transition rates to these levels is observed. The transition rates are found to be consistent with those predicted by use of quantum-defect theory.
Transitions between energetically close-lying Rydberg states are characterized by large electric dipole matrix elements and frequencies low enough that at room temperature the photon occupation number is \ensuremath{\simeq} 10. Consequently the absorption of blackbody radiation and the stimulated emission produced by it lead to an efficient redistribution of population among nearby levels. In some cases dramatic effects are observed, for example, radiative lifetimes that are shortened to a small fraction of their T=0T=0T=0 values. In addition, the 300-K blackbody field of \ensuremath{\sim}10 V/cm produces ac Stark shifts of the Rydberg levels. Calculations of the population redistribution effects and ac Stark shifts are presented. Examples are given to illustrate that care must be taken in experiments with highly excited atoms to ensure that only one state is being observed rather than a distribution.
We have studied ionization of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation (BBR). The results of theoretical calculations of ionization rates of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs Rydberg atoms are presented. The calculations have been performed for n S, n P and n D states for principal quantum numbers n =8–65 at ambient temperatures of 77, 300 and 600 K. The calculations take into account the contributions of BBR-induced redistribution of population between Rydberg states prior to photoionization and field ionization by extraction electric field pulses. The obtained results show that these phenomena affect both the magnitude of the measured ionization rates and their n dependence. A Cooper minimum for BBR-induced transitions between bound Rydberg states of Li has been found. The calculated ionization rates are compared with our earlier measurements of BBR-induced ionization rates of Na n S and n D Rydberg states with n =8–20 at 300 K. Good agreement for all states except n S with n >15 is observed. Useful analytical formulae for quick estimates of BBR ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. Application of BBR-induced ionization signal to measurements of collisional ionization rates is demonstrated.
Blackbody radiation affects low-frequency (${h}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}\ensuremath{\ll}\mathrm{kT}$) atomic transitions both by inducing transitions and producing ac frequency shifts, important effects that have previously been ignored. Here we report the calculation and experimental observation of a manifestation of the former, the threefold reduction of the Na np\mathrm{np}np radiative lifetimes by 300-K blackbody-radiation-induced stimulated emission and absorption. Estimates of ac frequency shifts for Rydberg and ground-state atoms are given.
Abstract An ensemble of excited atoms can synchronize emission of light collectively in a process known as superradiance when its characteristic size is smaller than the wavelength of emitted photons. The underlying superradiance depends strongly on electromagnetic (photon) fields surrounding the atomic ensemble. High mode densities of microwave photons from 300 K blackbody radiation (BBR) significantly enhance decay rates of Rydberg states to neighbouring states, enabling superradiance that is not possible with bare vacuum induced spontaneous decay. Here we report observations of the superradiance of ultracold Rydberg atoms embedded in a bath of room-temperature photons. The temporal evolution of the Rydberg | nD ⟩ to |( n + 1) P ⟩ superradiant decay of Cs atoms ( n the principal quantum number) is measured directly in free space. Theoretical simulations confirm the BBR enhanced superradiance in large Rydberg ensembles. We demonstrate that the van der Waals interactions between Rydberg atoms change the superradiant dynamics and modify the scaling of the superradiance. In the presence of static electric fields, we find that the superradiance becomes slow, potentially due to many-body interaction induced dephasing. Our study provides insights into many-body dynamics of interacting atoms coupled to thermal BBR, and might open a route to the design of blackbody thermometry at microwave frequencies via collective, dissipative photon-atom interactions.
We have studied ionization of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation (BBR). The results of theoretical calculations of ionization rates of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs Rydberg atoms are presented. The calculations have been performed for nS, nP and nD states for principal quantum numbers n=8-65 at ambient temperatures of 77, 300 and 600 K. The calculations take into account the contributions of BBR-induced redistribution of population between Rydberg states prior to photoionization and field ionization by extraction electric field pulses. The obtained results show that these phenomena affect both the magnitude of the measured ionization rates and their n-dependence. A Cooper minimum for BBR-induced transitions between bound Rydberg states of Li has been found. The calculated ionization rates are compared with our earlier measurements of BBR-induced ionization rates of Na nS and nD Rydberg states with n=8-20 at 300 K. A good agreement for all states except nS with n> 15 is observed. Useful analytical formulas for quick estimates of BBR ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. Application of BBR-induced ionization signal to