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Journal of Physics Conference Series

DC Stark effect on cold Rydberg atom nD + nD pair collisions

Jader Cabral, Luís F. Gonçalves, Donald W. Booth, Arne Schwettmann, J E Tallant, James P. Shaffer, Luís Gustavo Marcassa

Published Nov 1, 2009• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have observed a significant yield of (n + 2)P atoms after the excitation of nD Rydberg atoms in a Rb MOT, where 27 < n < 41, which can be attributed to binary collisions between Rydberg atoms. We have measured its dependence on principle quantum number as well as DC electric field. These results are compared to a model which uses the Landau-Zener method to calculate transition probabilities at avoided crossings in the two-atom potential energy curves, taking into account the effects of the DC Stark effect due to the background electric field.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/194/12/122003

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We have observed a significant yield of (n + 2)P atoms after the excitation of nD Rydberg atoms in a Rb MOT, where 27 < n < 41, which can be attributed to binary collisions between Rydberg atoms. We have measured its dependence on principle quantum number as well as DC electric field. These results are compared to a model which uses the Landau-Zener method to calculate transition probabilities at avoided crossings in the two-atom potential energy curves, taking into account the effects of the DC Stark effect due to the background electric field.
We investigate the role of the dc Stark effect in multilevel pairwise interactions between cold Rydberg atoms. We have observed the decay of nD + nD quasi-molecules by detecting the products in the (n + 2) P state after pulsed excitation for 29 <= n <= 41. The decay rate can be manipulated with a dc electric field and requires a consideration of the multilevel nature of the process to explain the observations. The time dependence of the (n + 2) P signal is found to support a time-dependent picture of the dynamics.
We present experimental results that show a significant yield of nP atoms after excitation of nS Rb Rydberg atoms from a MOT using a pulsed dye laser, where 29 < n < 37. The observed nP population is quadratically dependent on the nS atomic density. Such results are naturally attributed to binary collisions. However, this cannot be the case here, because the interaction between Rb nS atoms is repulsive. In this experiment, the AC Stark effect and multipole interactions work together to create a nonvanishing final population of nP + ( n − 1) P pairs.
In this work, we study the role of the ac Stark effects on the excitation of nS1/2 cold Rydberg atoms produced in a rubidium magneto-optical trap. We have observed an atomic population in the nP3/2 state after excitation of nS1/2 for 29<or=n<or=37. Such an observation is normally attributed to binary collisions; however, the interaction between Rb nS1/2 atoms is repulsive. To explain our results, the dipole-dipole interaction and ac Stark shifts from the excitation laser must be considered. We find that the Rydberg-atom-pair state asymptotically correlating to nP3/2+(n-1)P3/2 is excited directly.
We present calculations of potential curves for very high-nnn (89D)(89D)(89D) Cs Rydberg-atom pairs, including a background electric field. From these potentials, we show that energy transfer occurs at rates of $\ensuremath{\sim}30--70\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$, background electric fields play an important role and dipole-dipole- and quadrupole-quadrupole-induced avoided curve crossings should lead to conversion of electronic to kinetic energy, nnn-changing collisions, and observable ultracold long-range Rydberg molecules.
The theory of collisions of Rydberg atoms with rare-gas atoms is generalized to include the effects of an applied static electric field. Two effects occur. First, the field causes the states to split, and the increased energy separations lead to a decrease in the inelastic cross sections. Second, there is a change in the form of the wave functions, because the various Stark states in the field have electron charge distributions that may be localized in very different regions of space. The present work focuses on this second effect. With the description of the initial and final Stark states of the Rydberg atom by the proper electronic wave functions obtained in parabolic coordinates, cross sections are obtained for a variety of specific transitions of Rydberg atoms (n=10,15,and20n=10, 15, \mathrm{and} 20n=10,15,and20) caused by collisions. The calculations are strictly valid for hydrogen, but exhibit general features that are expected to apply to other Rydberg atoms as well. The results show a dramatic effect on the cross section for particular transitions depending on the degree of overlap of the initial and final charge distributions. In addition, it is observed that transitions are favored that involve small changes in the azimuthal quantum number mmm. The origin of this tendency is discussed.
We have measured the locations and widths of the avoided level crossings between (n+3)s states and n,k Stark states in Rydberg Rb atoms with principal quantum numbers n between 16 and 25. We use two-step laser excitation to excite (n+3)s states in the presence of an electric field and observe a change in the number of atoms driven to higher-lying states by blackbody radiation as the electric field is tuned through the avoided level crossings. We have measured both the positions and widths of the avoided crossings. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.