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

Physics Today

A Bose–Einstein condensate in an atom

Ashley G. Smart

Published Jul 1, 2018• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

By embedding the condensate within the far-flung electronic orbit of a Rydberg atom, researchers orchestrated ion–atom collisions at record cold temperatures.
DOI
10.1063/pt.3.3964

Related papers

Collisions of cold ions and Bose?Einstein condensates

Institute of Physics eBooks•Nov 26, 2004•0 citations

Ionic Impurity in a Bose-Einstein Condensate at Submicrokelvin Temperatures

K. S. Kleinbach, F. Engel, T. Dieterle +3 more

Rydberg atoms immersed in a Bose-Einstein condensate interact with the quantum gas via electron-atom and ion-atom interaction. To suppress the typically dominant electron-neutral interaction, Rydberg states with a principal quantum number up to n=190 are excited from a dense and tightly trapped micron-sized condensate. This allows us to explore a regime where the Rydberg orbit exceeds the size of the atomic sample by far. In this case, a detailed line shape analysis of the Rydberg excitation spectrum provides clear evidence for ion-atom interaction at temperatures well below a microkelvin. Our results may open up ways to enter the quantum regime of ion-atom scattering for the exploration of charged quantum impurities and associated polaron physics.

arXiv:1802.08587•Physical Review Letters•May 10, 2018•84 citations

A Bose–Einstein condensate inside an atom

Ashley G. Smart

Physics Today•Jun 4, 2018•1 citation

Electron/ion imaging technology and its applications in cold atoms, molecules, and related fields

Yang Liu, Zhenjie Shen, X. Wang +1 more

With the continuous advancement and maturation of laser cooling techniques for atoms and molecules and full-dimensional electron and ion imaging technology, using momentum imaging techniques to investigate the characteristic properties of cold atoms and collision dynamics has emerged as a burgeoning research direction. This progress has driven the development of a series of high-resolution electron and ion detection devices, leading to innovative breakthroughs in fields such as cold molecule reactions, Rydberg atoms, nuclear decay, photoionization of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and cold plasmas, collisions between cold atoms and ions/electrons, coherent control of cold atoms, and strong-field ultrafast physics. This article reviews representative instruments and their corresponding seminal achievements in the following domains: In cold molecular/cold chemical reactions, imaging technology has revealed new insights into reaction mechanisms; For cold Rydberg atom interactions, it demonstrates high-precision quantum state manipulation capabilities, advancing quantum information processing; In nuclear decay research, it provides ultra-sensitive detection methods, deepening understanding of decay processes; For BEC photoionization and cold plasma control, it can precisely monitor and manipulate microscopic processes; In cold atomic collision studies, it reveals new details in collision dynamics, refining collision theories; Regarding coherent control of cold atoms, it achieves accurate quantum state manipulation and interference; In strong-field ultrafast processes, it elucidates complex electron dynamics under intense fields, providing innovative methods for ultrafast laser control. Furthermore, this article summarizes the applications of imaging technologies in the aforementioned research areas involving cold atoms, and provides prospects for future developments in this evolving field.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2025•0 citations

Ultra-cold molecules in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate

R. H. Wynar

•Aug 1, 2000•1 citation

Lifetimes of ultralong-range strontium Rydberg molecules in a dense Bose-Einstein condensate

J. D. Whalen, F. Camargo, Roger Ding +5 more

The lifetimes and decay channels of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules created in a dense Bose-Einstein condensate are examined by monitoring the time evolution of the Rydberg population using field ionization. Studies of molecules with values of the principal quantum number, $n$, in the range $n=49$ to $n=72$ that contain tens to hundreds of ground-state atoms within the Rydberg electron orbit show that their presence leads to marked changes in the field ionization characteristics. The Rydberg molecules have lifetimes of $\ensuremath{\sim}1\ensuremath{-}5\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, their destruction being attributed to two main processes: formation of ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{}^{+}$ ions through associative ionization and dissociation induced through $L$-changing collisions. The observed loss rates are consistent with a reaction model that emphasizes the interaction between the Rydberg core ion and its nearest-neighbor ground-state atom. The measured lifetimes place strict limits on the time scales over which studies involving Rydberg species in cold, dense atomic gases can be undertaken and limit the coherence times for such measurements.

arXiv:1707.02354•Physical Review A•Oct 11, 2017•23 citations
Rydberg atoms immersed in a Bose-Einstein condensate interact with the quantum gas via electron-atom and ion-atom interaction. To suppress the typically dominant electron-neutral interaction, Rydberg states with a principal quantum number up to n=190 are excited from a dense and tightly trapped micron-sized condensate. This allows us to explore a regime where the Rydberg orbit exceeds the size of the atomic sample by far. In this case, a detailed line shape analysis of the Rydberg excitation spectrum provides clear evidence for ion-atom interaction at temperatures well below a microkelvin. Our results may open up ways to enter the quantum regime of ion-atom scattering for the exploration of charged quantum impurities and associated polaron physics.
With the continuous advancement and maturation of laser cooling techniques for atoms and molecules and full-dimensional electron and ion imaging technology, using momentum imaging techniques to investigate the characteristic properties of cold atoms and collision dynamics has emerged as a burgeoning research direction. This progress has driven the development of a series of high-resolution electron and ion detection devices, leading to innovative breakthroughs in fields such as cold molecule reactions, Rydberg atoms, nuclear decay, photoionization of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and cold plasmas, collisions between cold atoms and ions/electrons, coherent control of cold atoms, and strong-field ultrafast physics. This article reviews representative instruments and their corresponding seminal achievements in the following domains: In cold molecular/cold chemical reactions, imaging technology has revealed new insights into reaction mechanisms; For cold Rydberg atom interactions, it demonstrates high-precision quantum state manipulation capabilities, advancing quantum information processing; In nuclear decay research, it provides ultra-sensitive detection methods, deepening understanding of decay processes; For BEC photoionization and cold plasma control, it can precisely monitor and manipulate microscopic processes; In cold atomic collision studies, it reveals new details in collision dynamics, refining collision theories; Regarding coherent control of cold atoms, it achieves accurate quantum state manipulation and interference; In strong-field ultrafast processes, it elucidates complex electron dynamics under intense fields, providing innovative methods for ultrafast laser control. Furthermore, this article summarizes the applications of imaging technologies in the aforementioned research areas involving cold atoms, and provides prospects for future developments in this evolving field.
The lifetimes and decay channels of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules created in a dense Bose-Einstein condensate are examined by monitoring the time evolution of the Rydberg population using field ionization. Studies of molecules with values of the principal quantum number, nnn, in the range n=49n=49n=49 to n=72n=72n=72 that contain tens to hundreds of ground-state atoms within the Rydberg electron orbit show that their presence leads to marked changes in the field ionization characteristics. The Rydberg molecules have lifetimes of $\ensuremath{\sim}1\ensuremath{-}5\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, their destruction being attributed to two main processes: formation of Sr2+{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{}^{+}Sr2​+ ions through associative ionization and dissociation induced through LLL-changing collisions. The observed loss rates are consistent with a reaction model that emphasizes the interaction between the Rydberg core ion and its nearest-neighbor ground-state atom. The measured lifetimes place strict limits on the time scales over which studies involving Rydberg species in cold, dense atomic gases can be undertaken and limit the coherence times for such measurements.