I examine the trapping of Rydberg atoms in an optical standing wave. This trap, called an optical lattice, offers a platform for utilizing Rydberg atoms and their unique properties in applications such as atomic spectroscopy and quantum computing. Toward this end, I demonstrate the capability to trap rubidium 85 Rydberg atoms in a one-dimensional 1064 nm wavelength optical lattice with high efficiency. I have achieved a 90% trapping efficiency by inverting the lattice immediately after Rydberg-atom excitation, using an electro-optic technique. In addition, I investigate the dependence of optical-lattice trapping potentials for Rydberg atoms on the angular portion of the atomic wavefunction. While ground-state atoms are point-like in relation to an optical-lattice field, Rydberg-atom wavefunctions extend over a substantial fraction of the lattice period, leading to an angular dependence of the lattice trapping potentials. I measure the potentials using various angular sublevels of Rydberg nD states prepared in the optical lattice with a superimposed transverse DC electric field. This unique angular dependence of Rydberg-atom optical lattices may be exploited to tailor the trapping potentials as needed for spectroscopy or quantum computing. Further, atom loss due to lattice-induced photoionization of Rydberg atoms must be characterized for applications. I investigate the photoionization process as a function of position within the volume of a Rydberg atom. Since Rydberg-atom sizes approximately equal the lattice period, the lattice intensity varies maximally within the atomic volume. I find that photoionization rates are higher for lattice intensity maxima located near the nucleus than within the lobes of the electronic probability distribution. Photoionization therefore occurs near the Rydberg-atom nucleus. Finally, I calculate photoionization rates for Rydberg atoms in optical fields and investigate how these rates relate to the validity of the electric dipole approximation. This approximation is usually central to matter-field interactions, and Rydberg atoms in optical fields present a system for studying the approximation in a limiting case. I further apply the photoionization calculations to experimentally-relevant conditions. With these advances, this thesis lays essential groundwork for the employment of Rydberg-atom optical lattices in applications.I examine the trapping of Rydberg atoms in an optical standing wave. This trap, called an optical lattice, offers a platform for utilizing Rydberg atoms and their unique properties in applications such as atomic spectroscopy and quantum computing. Toward this end, I demonstrate the capability to trap rubidium 85 Rydberg atoms in a one-dimensional 1064 nm wavelength optical lattice with high efficiency. I have achieved a 90% trapping efficiency by inverting the lattice immediately after Rydberg-atom excitation, using an electro-optic technique. In addition, I investigate the dependence of optical-lattice trapping potentials for Rydberg atoms on the angular portion of the atomic wavefunction. While ground-state atoms are point-like in relation to an optical-lattice field, Rydberg-atom wavefunctions extend over a substantial fraction of the lattice period, leading to an angular dependence of the lattice trapping potentials. I measure the potentials using various angular sublevels of Rydberg nD states prepared in the optical lattice with a superimposed transverse DC electric field. This unique angular dependence of Rydberg-atom optical lattices may be exploited to tailor the trapping potentials as needed for spectroscopy or quantum computing. Further, atom loss due to lattice-induced photoionization of Rydberg atoms must be characterized for applications. I investigate the photoionization process as a function of position within the volume of a Rydberg atom. Since Rydberg-atom sizes approximately equal the lattice period, the lattice intensity varies maximally within the atomic volume. I find that photoionization rates are higher for lattice intensity maxima located near the nucleus than within the lobes of the electronic probability distribution. Photoionization therefore occurs near the Rydberg-atom nucleus. Finally, I calculate photoionization rates for Rydberg atoms in optical fields and investigate how these rates relate to the validity of the electric dipole approximation. This approximation is usually central to matter-field interactions, and Rydberg atoms in optical fields present a system for studying the approximation in a limiting case. I further apply the photoionization calculations to experimentally-relevant conditions. With these advances, this thesis lays essential groundwork for the employment of Rydberg-atom optical lattices in applications.

Jan 1, 20140 citations

Magic optical trapping of Rydberg atoms

Siyuan Zhang, Gang Li, L. Isenhower +1 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 6, 20130 citations

Tune-out wavelengths and landscape-modulated polarizabilities of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms in infrared optical lattices

Türker Topçu, Andrei Derevianko

Intensity-modulated optical lattice potentials can change sign for an alkali-metal Rydberg atom, and the atoms are not always attracted to intensity minima in optical lattices with wavelengths near the CO ${}_{2}$ laser band. Here we demonstrate that such IR lattices can be tuned so that the trapping potential experienced by the Rydberg atom can be made to vanish for atoms in ``targeted'' Rydberg states. Such state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms can be useful in controlled cold Rydberg collisions, cooling Rydberg states, and species-selective trapping and transport of Rydberg atoms in optical lattices. We tabulate wavelengths at which the trapping potential vanishes for the $ns$ , $np$ , and $nd$ Rydberg states of Na and Rb atoms and discuss advantages of using such optical lattices for state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms. We also develop exact analytical expressions for the lattice-induced polarizability for the ${m}_{z}=0$ Rydberg states and derive an accurate formula predicting tune-out wavelengths at which the optical trapping potential becomes invisible to Rydberg atoms in targeted $l=0$ states.Intensity-modulated optical lattice potentials can change sign for an alkali-metal Rydberg atom, and the atoms are not always attracted to intensity minima in optical lattices with wavelengths near the CO${}_{2}$ laser band. Here we demonstrate that such IR lattices can be tuned so that the trapping potential experienced by the Rydberg atom can be made to vanish for atoms in ``targeted'' Rydberg states. Such state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms can be useful in controlled cold Rydberg collisions, cooling Rydberg states, and species-selective trapping and transport of Rydberg atoms in optical lattices. We tabulate wavelengths at which the trapping potential vanishes for the $ns$, $np$, and $nd$ Rydberg states of Na and Rb atoms and discuss advantages of using such optical lattices for state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms. We also develop exact analytical expressions for the lattice-induced polarizability for the ${m}_{z}=0$ Rydberg states and derive an accurate formula predicting tune-out wavelengths at which the optical trapping potential becomes invisible to Rydberg atoms in targeted $l=0$ states.

arXiv:1308.6258Physical Review ANov 6, 201312 citations

{}_{2}

laser band. Here we demonstrate that such IR lattices can be tuned so that the trapping potential experienced by the Rydberg atom can be made to vanish for atoms in ``targeted'' Rydberg states. Such state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms can be useful in controlled cold Rydberg collisions, cooling Rydberg states, and species-selective trapping and transport of Rydberg atoms in optical lattices. We tabulate wavelengths at which the trapping potential vanishes for the

ns

np

, and

nd

Rydberg states of Na and Rb atoms and discuss advantages of using such optical lattices for state-selective trapping of Rydberg atoms. We also develop exact analytical expressions for the lattice-induced polarizability for the

{m}_{z}=0

Rydberg states and derive an accurate formula predicting tune-out wavelengths at which the optical trapping potential becomes invisible to Rydberg atoms in targeted

l=0

states.