Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Optics

Instrumentation for multistep excitation of lithium atoms to Rydberg states

Chun-ho Iu, G. D. Stevens, Harold J. Metcalf

Published May 20, 1995• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have developed a diode laser apparatus to excite Li from its ground 2S state, through 2P and 3S, to its Rydberg states with three cw diode lasers operating at λ = 671 nm, 813 nm, and 630-635 nm. A He-Ne laser at λ = 633 is sometimes used in place of the 635-nm diode laser for the last step. The output power of each of these lasers was ~1 mW. We describe our technique of locking the first two lasers on Li resonance lines by obtaining a fluorescent signal from the second decay (3S ? 2P) that is normally overpowered by a strong background of fluorescent light from the first decay (2P ? 2S). We used two balanced photodiodes to reject the strong fluorescent light without loss of collection efficiency. A rejection ratio as high as 100 has been obtained.

DOI
10.1364/ao.34.002640

Related papers

Long-term frequency stabilized and linewidth-narrowed cw-laser system for excitation of lithium Rydberg states

Sergey A. Saakyan, Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Boris B. Zelener

We transfer the frequency stability from a diode laser, which was locked to Doppler-free saturation absorption resonance in lithium vapor cell, to a tunable Ti-sapphire laser. We get the laser linewidth < 100 kHz/100 ms and absolute frequency stability ±0.5 MHz. The uv laser system which included the stabilized Ti-sapphire laser and frequency doubler has output optical beam with power near 100 mW and wavelength 350 nm. This uv laser system will be used for excitation and study of Rydberg states in lithium atoms.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jan 1, 2018•3 citations

Excitation of Rydberg states in rubidium with near infrared diode lasers

Donald P. Fahey, Michael W. Noel

A system of three external cavity diode lasers is used to excite Rydberg states in rubidium. The 5S→5P→5D transitions are driven using lasers with λ = 780 and 776 nm respectively. From the 5D state, atoms fluoresce down to the 6P state. The final transition to Rydberg levels is from the 6P state with laser light near λ = 1016 nm. The nS and nD Rydberg states are accessible directly and with the application of a modest electric field nP states can also be excited. As a test of this system, Stark spectra are collected for nD and nP states.

Optics Express•Aug 16, 2011•39 citations

Quasiresonant Excitation of Lithium 2p–4d and 2p–4s Transitions in Li-Cd Vapor Mixture

Slobodan Milošević, Davorka Azinović, Irena Labazan +1 more

We performed quasiresonant laser excitation of Li–Cd vapor mixtures at 460.3 nm (2p–4d) and 497.2 nm (2p–4s). The initial population of the Li(2p) level is caused by three processes: collisional dissociation or photodissociation of the Li 2 (B 1 Π u ) molecules or energy transfer in Li 2 (B 1 Π u ) and Li(2s) collisions. The Li(4d,4s) atoms radiatively decay towards Li(3p), from which collisional population transfer to Cd(5 3 P J ) occurs, followed by three-body reactive collisions which produce the LiCd(2 2 Π ) excimer states

Physica Scripta•Aug 1, 2000•1 citation

Frequency doubled tunable diode laser for excitation of Rydberg states in Rb atoms

Vasily M. Entin, I. I. Ryabtsev, Ilya I. Beterov +1 more

In the present paper we used single mode laser diode working near 960 nm to excite Rb atoms into Rydberg states. Using external cavity described above we have obtained stable continuous operation of the frequency doubling of semiconductor laser with linewidth below 10 MHz and output power of several mW.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2007•0 citations

Hyperfine splitting of the 3 2 Sstate of Li7 measured using Stark spectroscopy of Rydberg states

G. D. Stevens, Chun-ho Iu, Sandra Williams +2 more

Precision measurements of Rydberg Stark levels of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ atoms are used to determine the 3 $^{2}$S hyperfine separation, \ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{h}\mathit{f}}$(3 $^{2}$S). Three diode lasers at \ensuremath{\lambda}=671 nm, 813 nm, and 633 nm excite $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ atoms to n=15 sublevels in the presence of an electric field. Photoionization resonances at fields below the saddle point are used in conjunction with matrix diagonalization calculations to determine the binding energy of levels excited from each 3 $^{2}$S hyperfine sublevel. The difference between the two fitted binding energies excited from 3 $^{2}$S (F=1) and 3 $^{2}$S (F=2) yields 189.36(43) MHz for \ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{h}\mathit{f}}$(3 $^{2}$S${;}^{7}$Li).

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1995•16 citations

Two-photon Rydberg resonances in lithium-7 obtained by recording reduction of resonance fluorescence

Boris B. Zelener, Sergey A. Saakyan, Vladimir A. Sautenkov +1 more

In a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of 7Li, two-photon Rydberg resonances are recorded by using a spectroscopic technique, which based on variation in the resonance fluorescence. The first excitation frequency is detuned by 0.59 GHz from the intermediate 2P 3/2 state. Two counter-propagating laser beams are used. The resonances are studied on two-photon transitions 2S 1/2 − nl in a range of principal quantum number n from 38 to 120. The widths of the observed resonances are varied from 4.4 to 13 MHz for different MOT parameters.

Doklady Physics•Mar 1, 2017•1 citation
We have developed a diode laser apparatus to excite Li from its ground 2S state, through 2P and 3S, to its Rydberg states with three cw diode lasers operating at λ = 671 nm, 813 nm, and 630-635 nm. A He-Ne laser at λ = 633 is sometimes used in place of the 635-nm diode laser for the last step. The output power of each of these lasers was ~1 mW. We describe our technique of locking the first two lasers on Li resonance lines by obtaining a fluorescent signal from the second decay (3S ? 2P) that is normally overpowered by a strong background of fluorescent light from the first decay (2P ? 2S). We used two balanced photodiodes to reject the strong fluorescent light without loss of collection efficiency. A rejection ratio as high as 100 has been obtained.
We transfer the frequency stability from a diode laser, which was locked to Doppler-free saturation absorption resonance in lithium vapor cell, to a tunable Ti-sapphire laser. We get the laser linewidth < 100 kHz/100 ms and absolute frequency stability ±0.5 MHz. The uv laser system which included the stabilized Ti-sapphire laser and frequency doubler has output optical beam with power near 100 mW and wavelength 350 nm. This uv laser system will be used for excitation and study of Rydberg states in lithium atoms.
A system of three external cavity diode lasers is used to excite Rydberg states in rubidium. The 5S→5P→5D transitions are driven using lasers with λ = 780 and 776 nm respectively. From the 5D state, atoms fluoresce down to the 6P state. The final transition to Rydberg levels is from the 6P state with laser light near λ = 1016 nm. The nS and nD Rydberg states are accessible directly and with the application of a modest electric field nP states can also be excited. As a test of this system, Stark spectra are collected for nD and nP states.
We performed quasiresonant laser excitation of Li–Cd vapor mixtures at 460.3 nm (2p–4d) and 497.2 nm (2p–4s). The initial population of the Li(2p) level is caused by three processes: collisional dissociation or photodissociation of the Li 2 (B 1 Π u ) molecules or energy transfer in Li 2 (B 1 Π u ) and Li(2s) collisions. The Li(4d,4s) atoms radiatively decay towards Li(3p), from which collisional population transfer to Cd(5 3 P J ) occurs, followed by three-body reactive collisions which produce the LiCd(2 2 Π ) excimer states
Precision measurements of Rydberg Stark levels of 7Li^{7}\mathrm{Li}7Li atoms are used to determine the 3 2^{2}2S hyperfine separation, \ensuremath{\Delta}Ehf{\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{h}\mathit{f}}Ehf​(3 2^{2}2S). Three diode lasers at \ensuremath{\lambda}=671 nm, 813 nm, and 633 nm excite 7Li^{7}\mathrm{Li}7Li atoms to n=15 sublevels in the presence of an electric field. Photoionization resonances at fields below the saddle point are used in conjunction with matrix diagonalization calculations to determine the binding energy of levels excited from each 3 2^{2}2S hyperfine sublevel. The difference between the two fitted binding energies excited from 3 2^{2}2S (F=1) and 3 2^{2}2S (F=2) yields 189.36(43) MHz for \ensuremath{\Delta}Ehf{\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{h}\mathit{f}}Ehf​(3 2^{2}2S;7{;}^{7};7Li).
In a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of 7Li, two-photon Rydberg resonances are recorded by using a spectroscopic technique, which based on variation in the resonance fluorescence. The first excitation frequency is detuned by 0.59 GHz from the intermediate 2P 3/2 state. Two counter-propagating laser beams are used. The resonances are studied on two-photon transitions 2S 1/2 − nl in a range of principal quantum number n from 38 to 120. The widths of the observed resonances are varied from 4.4 to 13 MHz for different MOT parameters.