Abstract A method for calculating the properties of Rydberg states and Rydberg–Rydberg interaction between two 87 Sr atoms is described. The method is based on a multichannel quantum defect theory description of the Rydberg states that accounts for the hyperfine splitting of the 87 Sr + ground state. Results are given for the scalar and tensor polarizabilities and the eigenvalues of the C 6 matrix for the 5 sns F T = 9/2 series. These results illustrate the new features that arise due to the hyperfine splitting of the thresholds. In particular, there should be several couple Förster resonances above n = 50 unlike the case of 88 Sr which has none.
Abstract A method for calculating the properties of Rydberg states and Rydberg–Rydberg interaction between two 87 Sr atoms is described. The method is based on a multichannel quantum defect theory description of the Rydberg states that accounts for the hyperfine splitting of the 87 Sr + ground state. Results are given for the scalar and tensor polarizabilities and the eigenvalues of the C 6 matrix for the 5 sns F T = 9/2 series. These results illustrate the new features that arise due to the hyperfine splitting of the thresholds. In particular, there should be several couple Förster resonances above n = 50 unlike the case of 88 Sr which has none.
Quantum information processing with neutral atoms relies on Rydberg excitation for entanglement generation. While the use of heavy divalent or open-shell elements, such as strontium or ytterbium, has benefits due to their optically active core and a variety of possible qubit encodings, their Rydberg structure is generally complex. For some isotopes in particular, hyperfine interactions are relevant even for highly excited electronic states. We employ multichannel quantum defect theory to infer the Rydberg structure of isotopes with nonzero nuclear spin and perform nonperturbative Rydberg-pair interaction calculations. We find that due to the high level density and sensitivities to external fields, experimental parameters must be precisely controlled. Specifically in Sr 87 , we study an intrinsic Förster resonance, unique to divalent atoms with hyperfine-split thresholds, which simultaneously provides line stability with respect to external field fluctuations and enhanced long-range interactions. Additionally, we provide parameters for pair states that can be effectively described by single-channel Rydberg series. The explored pair states provide exciting opportunities for applications in the blockade regime, as well as for more exotic long-range interactions such as largely flat, distance-independent potentials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
The theory is developed for one- and two-atom interactions when the atom has a Rydberg electron attached to a hyperfine-split core state. This situation is relevant for some of the rare-earth and alkaline-earth atoms that have been proposed for experiments on Rydberg-Rydberg interactions. For the rare-earth atoms, the core electrons can have a very substantial total angular momentum J and a nonzero nuclear spin I. In the alkaline-earth atoms there is a single (s) core electron whose spin can couple to a nonzero nuclear spin for odd isotopes. The resulting hyperfine splitting of the core state can lead to substantial mixing between the Rydberg series attached to different thresholds. Compared to the unperturbed Rydberg series of the alkali-metal atoms, the series perturbations and near degeneracies from the different parity states could lead to qualitatively different behavior for single-atom Rydberg properties (polarizability, Zeeman mixing and splitting, etc.) as well as Rydberg-Rydberg interactions (C5 and C6 matrices).
Abstract Long-range dipole–dipole and quadrupole–quadrupole interactions between pairs of Rydberg atoms are calculated perturbatively for calcium, strontium and ytterbium within the Coulomb approximation. Quantum defects, obtained by fitting existing laser spectroscopic data, are provided for all S, P, D and F series of strontium and for the 3 P 2 series of calcium. The results show qualitative differences with the alkali metal atoms, including isotropically attractive interactions of the strontium 1 S 0 states and a greater rarity of Förster resonances. Only two such resonances are identified, both in triplet series of strontium. The angular dependence of the long-range interaction is briefly discussed.
Abstract Long-range dipole–dipole and quadrupole–quadrupole interactions between pairs of Rydberg atoms are calculated perturbatively for calcium, strontium and ytterbium within the Coulomb approximation. Quantum defects, obtained by fitting existing laser spectroscopic data, are provided for all S, P, D and F series of strontium and for the 3P2 series of calcium. The results show qualitative differences with the alkali metal atoms, including isotropically attractive interactions of the strontium 1S0 states and a greater rarity of Förster resonances. Only two such resonances are identified, both in triplet series of strontium. The angular dependence of the long-range interaction is briefly discussed.
We present calculations of long-range interactions in Rydberg atoms, with a focus on the dipole-dipole interactions of strontium Rydberg states. The growing use of Rydberg states in the field of cold atoms necessitates a more detailed understanding of the effects of dipole-dipole interactions, which are currently being investigated in a number of research groups worldwide. Calculations of long-range interactions in Rydberg states of caesium, cal- cium, rubidium, strontium and ytterbium are presented. By taking the one active electron approximation we develop consistent models of these long- range interactions, and construct a survey of the Rydberg state dipole-dipole interactions and quadrupole-quadrupole interactions. We compare the inter- actions between series and between atoms, highlighting the importance of certain series for applications suggested in previous works. In order to include two-electron effects in the description of dipole-dipole interactions in divalent atoms, we use multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) to develop models of the Rydberg series of strontium. We use an empirical reactance matrix formalism, where the reactance matrix is fitted to reproduce experimentally measured values of the bound state energy levels. Models are found for all series of strontium with L ≤ 3. We extend the MQDT formalism to the description of the natural radiative lifetimes of strontium, where the perturbers are found to have a large quenching effect on these lifetimes. By incorporating the MQDT description of the Rydberg states of strontium into the calculation of dipole-dipole interactions, we find a spin-forbidden two-atom resonance in the 3D2 states of strontium. We consider a one- dimensional lattice of strontium atoms, and find that the internal dynamics of the Rydberg atoms demonstrates spin transport for large lattice spacings and a separation of the spin and total angular momentum dynamics for small lattice spacings. Spin-angular momentum separation (analogous to spin-charge separation in condensed matter) in strontium Rydberg atoms may have uses in the investigation of one-dimensional Fermi gases and their description using Luttinger liquid theory.
In extremely high Rydberg states of odd alkaline-earth isotopes, the Fermi constant a ms is comparable to the energy separation between levels belonging to different principal quantum numbers n and hyperfine interactions dominate the structure of the levels. The multichannel quantum defect theory of fine structure has been developed and applied to hyperfine structure and thus the HFS can be analysed directly by MQDT. A two-channel quantum defect model for extremely high Rydberg msns 1 S 0 and msns 3 S 1 series in odd alkaline-earth isotopes for F=I is described. The U i(F)i matrix is given analytically and the relationship between the eigenquantum defects of HFS and the quantum defects of fine structure is derived. The HFS of two extremely high Rydberg 5sns 1 S 0 and 3 S 1 series in 87 Sr has been calculated by the model and an excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental results has been achieved. The HFS of extremely high Rydberg msns 1 S 0 and 3 S 1 series in 43 Ca, 135 Ba and 137 Ba are also analysed by the model.