Hydrogen atoms in Rydberg states with principal quantum numbers between 23 and 70 have been accelerated, decelerated, and electrostatically trapped using a surface-electrode Rydberg-Stark decelerator. By applying a set of oscillating electrical potentials to a two-dimensional array of electrodes on a printed circuit board (PCB), a continuously moving, three-dimensional electric trap with a predefined velocity and acceleration is generated. From an initial longitudinal velocity of 760 m/s, final velocities of the Rydberg atoms ranging from 1200 m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory-fixed frame of reference were achieved. Accelerated or decelerated atoms were detected directly by pulsed electric-field ionization. Atoms trapped at zero mean velocity above the PCB were reaccelerated off the PCB before field ionization.Hydrogen atoms in Rydberg states with principal quantum numbers between 23 and 70 have been accelerated, decelerated, and electrostatically trapped using a surface-electrode Rydberg-Stark decelerator. By applying a set of oscillating electrical potentials to a two-dimensional array of electrodes on a printed circuit board (PCB), a continuously moving, three-dimensional electric trap with a predefined velocity and acceleration is generated. From an initial longitudinal velocity of 760 m/s, final velocities of the Rydberg atoms ranging from 1200 m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory-fixed frame of reference were achieved. Accelerated or decelerated atoms were detected directly by pulsed electric-field ionization. Atoms trapped at zero mean velocity above the PCB were reaccelerated off the PCB before field ionization.

Physical Review LettersFeb 10, 201255 citations

Stark deceleration and trapping of hydrogen Rydberg atoms

E. Vliegen, S. D. Hogan, Hansjürg Schmutz +1 more

Hydrogen atoms in supersonic expansions with velocities in the range from $700\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}800\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ have been excited to Rydberg-Stark states with principal quantum number $n$ between 20 and 40, decelerated to zero velocity in the lab frame using time-dependent inhomogeneous electric fields, and trapped in a two-dimensional electrostatic trap with an initial density of $\ensuremath{\approx}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The motion of the atomic cloud in the trap was observed by measuring the times of flight and images of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ ions produced by pulsed field ionization. The velocity distribution of the trapped atoms can be described by an effective temperature of $350\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mK}$ . The decay of the population of trapped atoms does not follow a single-exponential behavior and has contributions from radiative and collisional processes.Hydrogen atoms in supersonic expansions with velocities in the range from $700\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}800\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ have been excited to Rydberg-Stark states with principal quantum number $n$ between 20 and 40, decelerated to zero velocity in the lab frame using time-dependent inhomogeneous electric fields, and trapped in a two-dimensional electrostatic trap with an initial density of $\ensuremath{\approx}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The motion of the atomic cloud in the trap was observed by measuring the times of flight and images of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ ions produced by pulsed field ionization. The velocity distribution of the trapped atoms can be described by an effective temperature of $350\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mK}$. The decay of the population of trapped atoms does not follow a single-exponential behavior and has contributions from radiative and collisional processes.

Physical Review AAug 10, 200771 citations

Effect of atom motion in Rydberg-atom arrays

Zewen Zhang, Ming Yuan, Bhuvanesh Sundar +1 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 3, 20210 citations

Collision Spectroscopy of Rydberg Atoms

James Veale

Jan 1, 19950 citations

Demonstration of Three-Dimensional Electrostatic Trapping of State-Selected Rydberg Atoms

S. D. Hogan, Frédéric Merkt

A three-dimensional trap for Rydberg atoms in selected Stark states has been realized experimentally. H atoms seeded in a supersonic expansion of Ar are excited to the low-field seeking n=30, k=25, |m|=0, 2 Rydberg-Stark states, decelerated from a mean initial velocity of 665 m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory frame and loaded into a three-dimensional electrostatic trap. The motion of the cold Rydberg atom cloud in the trap and the decay of the trapped atoms have been studied by pulsed electric field ionization and imaging techniques.A three-dimensional trap for Rydberg atoms in selected Stark states has been realized experimentally. H atoms seeded in a supersonic expansion of Ar are excited to the low-field seeking n=30, k=25, |m|=0, 2 Rydberg-Stark states, decelerated from a mean initial velocity of 665 m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory frame and loaded into a three-dimensional electrostatic trap. The motion of the cold Rydberg atom cloud in the trap and the decay of the trapped atoms have been studied by pulsed electric field ionization and imaging techniques.

Physical Review LettersJan 30, 2008124 citations

Hydrogen atoms in supersonic expansions with velocities in the range from

700\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}800\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}

have been excited to Rydberg-Stark states with principal quantum number

n

between 20 and 40, decelerated to zero velocity in the lab frame using time-dependent inhomogeneous electric fields, and trapped in a two-dimensional electrostatic trap with an initial density of $\ensuremath{\approx}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The motion of the atomic cloud in the trap was observed by measuring the times of flight and images of the

{\mathrm{H}}^{+}

ions produced by pulsed field ionization. The velocity distribution of the trapped atoms can be described by an effective temperature of

350\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mK}

. The decay of the population of trapped atoms does not follow a single-exponential behavior and has contributions from radiative and collisional processes.