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

Autoionization of an ultracold Rydberg gas through resonant dipole coupling

Thomas Amthor, J. Denskat, Christian Giese, Nikolai N. Bezuglov, Aigars Ekers, Lorenz S. Cederbaum, Matthias Weidemüller

Published Nov 21, 2012• 21 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Abstract. We investigate a possible mechanism for the autoionization of ultracold Rydberg gases, based on the resonant coupling of Rydberg pair states to the ionization continuum. Unlike an atomic collision where the wave functions begin to overlap, the mechanism considered here involves only the long-range dipole

Related papers

Autoionization widths of cold Rydberg atomic complexes

M. S. Dimitrijević, Vladimir A. Srécković, Alaa Abo Zalam +4 more

We have considered two types of interactions between particles resulting in autoionization of the intermediate Rydberg collisional complex.The first type is caused by the charge exchange processes inside the ionic core of the complex and is responsible for the formation of the final associative ionization channel due to the departure of a Rydberg electron (RE) of the complex to the energy continuum.We have investigated the evolution of the orbital momentum L of RE and discovered a non-trivial time dependence of L, demonstrating a contrasting oscillatory structure in both direction orientation and its absolute value.The second type of interaction, dipole-dipole interaction, dominates in cold highly excited gaseous media and leads to Penning ionization of various pairs of Rydberg atoms.We have found the optimal quantum configurations of atomic pairs, which intensify the PI rates by several orders of magnitude, and become important suppliers of charged particles upon the evolution of Rydberg gas into cold plasma.

Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnaté Pleso•Jan 10, 2020•0 citations

Autoionization of an ultracold Rydberg gas through resonant dipole coupling

T. Amthor, J. Denskat, C. Giese +4 more

arXiv:0903.3147•The European Physical Journal D•Apr 10, 2009•34 citations

Dipole-Dipole Excitation and Ionization in an Ultracold Gas of Rydberg Atoms

Wenhui Li, Paul J. Tanner, Thomas F. Gallagher

In cold dense Rydberg atom samples, the dipole-dipole interaction strength is effectively resonant at the typical interatomic spacing in the sample, and the interaction has a 1/R3 dependence on interatomic spacing R. The dipole-dipole attraction leads to ionizing collisions of initially stationary atoms, which produces hot atoms and ions and initiates the evolution of initially cold samples of neutral Rydberg atoms into plasmas. More generally, the strong dipole-dipole forces lead to motion, which must be considered in proposed applications.

Physical Review Letters•May 4, 2005•248 citations

Pulsed excitation of Rydberg-atom-pair states in an ultracold Cs gas

Heiner Saßmannshausen, Frédéric Merkt, Johannes Deiglmayr

Pulsed laser excitation of a dense ultracold Cs vapor has been used to study the pairwise interactions between Cs atoms excited to $n{p}_{3/2}$ Rydberg states of principal quantum numbers in the range $n=22--36$. Molecular resonances were observed that correspond to excitation of Rydberg-atom-pair states correlated not only to the $n{p}_{3/2}+n{p}_{3/2}$ dissociation asymptotes, but also to $n{s}_{1/2}+(n+1){s}_{1/2}, n{s}_{1/2}+{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}{f}_{j}$, and $(n\ensuremath{-}4){f}_{j}+(n\ensuremath{-}3){f}_{j}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}(j=5/2,7/2)$ dissociation asymptotes. These pair resonances are interpreted as arising from dipole-dipole and higher-order long-range-interaction terms between the Rydberg atoms on the basis of (i) their spectral positions, (ii) their response to static and pulsed electric fields, and (iii) millimeter-wave spectra between pair states correlated to different pair-dissociation asymptotes. The Rydberg-atom-pair states were found to spontaneously decay by Penning ionization and the dynamics of the ionization process were investigated during the first 15 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ following initial photoexcitation. To interpret the experimental observations, a potential model was derived that is based on the numerical determination of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the long-range interaction Hamiltonian. With this potential model, which does not include adjustable parameters, all experimental observations could be accounted for, and the results demonstrate that long-range-interaction models provide a global and accurate description of interactions in ultracold Rydberg gases and that they correctly account for, and enable the analysis of, phenomena as diverse as the formation of Rydberg macrodimers, Penning ionization in dense Rydberg gases, and Rydberg-excitation-blockade effects.

arXiv:1506.08853•Physical Review A•Sep 8, 2015•14 citations

Autoionization of Ultracold Cesium Rydberg Atom in 37D5/2 State

Yuechun Jiao, Liping Hao, Jiabei Fan +3 more

We present the observation of an autoionization of cesium 37D5/2 Rydberg atoms in ultracold gases and analyze the autoionization mechanism. The autoionization process is investigated by varying the delay time tD and Rydberg atomic density. The dependence of ionization signals on Rydberg density shows that the Rydberg density has an effect on not only the initial ion signals but also the evolution of the Rydberg atoms. The results reveal that the initial ionization of 37D5/2 Rydberg atoms is mostly attributed to the blackbody radiation (BBR)-induced photoionization, and the BBR-induced transitions to the nearby Rydberg states that lead to further ionization. Our work plays a significant role in investigating the collision between Rydberg atoms and many-body physics.

Photonics•May 17, 2022•4 citations

Studies of strongly interacting Rydberg systems

Robert Gavin Fields

Rydberg atoms are increasingly being used as a means of introducing long-range, tunable interactions into atomic systems through their strong dipole-dipole interactions. When creating such interactions, however, there are a variety of potential effects that can occur, such as state (n and/or L) changing or Penning ionization, which can complicate the dynamics of the system. In the following work, such interactions are investigated for Rydberg-Rydberg collisions using very high-n, n ~300, strontium Rydberg atoms in an atomic beam configuration. By exploiting Rydberg blockade and the inherent distribution of atomic velocities present in an atomic beam, it is possible to create a 1D array of moving Rydberg atoms which will naturally overtake each other over time. Measurements of both Penning ionization and state changing for such collisions are made and compared with classical trajectory Monte-Carlo (CTMC) simulations, with both indicating large collisional cross sections on the order of 1 x 10-6 cm2 for Penning ionization and nearly 8 x 10-5 cm2 for state changing interactions. In a second series of experiments, previous work involving doubly-excited Rydberg states is expanded upon by investigating autoionization with high-n, L > 3, Rydberg states. Past research involving autoionization has shown that the effect is strongly L-dependent, with high-L states having significantly smaller autoionizing rates. To create well-defined, L > 3 states, the use of microwave fields to drive various high-n, n ~ 150, n1F3 → (n+1)1G4, (n+2)1H5 transitions is investigated, with spectroscopic measurements of these transitions providing quantum defect values for n1G4 and n1H5 states. These measurements provide a basis for future studies into the L-dependence of high-n, n ~ 300, autoionizing Rydberg atoms, with the eventual goal of creating a long-lived, doubly-excited “planetary” Rydberg state.

•Apr 1, 2021•0 citations
We have considered two types of interactions between particles resulting in autoionization of the intermediate Rydberg collisional complex.The first type is caused by the charge exchange processes inside the ionic core of the complex and is responsible for the formation of the final associative ionization channel due to the departure of a Rydberg electron (RE) of the complex to the energy continuum.We have investigated the evolution of the orbital momentum L of RE and discovered a non-trivial time dependence of L, demonstrating a contrasting oscillatory structure in both direction orientation and its absolute value.The second type of interaction, dipole-dipole interaction, dominates in cold highly excited gaseous media and leads to Penning ionization of various pairs of Rydberg atoms.We have found the optimal quantum configurations of atomic pairs, which intensify the PI rates by several orders of magnitude, and become important suppliers of charged particles upon the evolution of Rydberg gas into cold plasma.
In cold dense Rydberg atom samples, the dipole-dipole interaction strength is effectively resonant at the typical interatomic spacing in the sample, and the interaction has a 1/R3 dependence on interatomic spacing R. The dipole-dipole attraction leads to ionizing collisions of initially stationary atoms, which produces hot atoms and ions and initiates the evolution of initially cold samples of neutral Rydberg atoms into plasmas. More generally, the strong dipole-dipole forces lead to motion, which must be considered in proposed applications.
Pulsed laser excitation of a dense ultracold Cs vapor has been used to study the pairwise interactions between Cs atoms excited to np3/2n{p}_{3/2}np3/2​ Rydberg states of principal quantum numbers in the range n=22−−36n=22--36n=22−−36. Molecular resonances were observed that correspond to excitation of Rydberg-atom-pair states correlated not only to the np3/2+np3/2n{p}_{3/2}+n{p}_{3/2}np3/2​+np3/2​ dissociation asymptotes, but also to $n{s}_{1/2}+(n+1){s}_{1/2}, n{s}_{1/2}+{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}{f}_{j}$, and $(n\ensuremath{-}4){f}_{j}+(n\ensuremath{-}3){f}_{j}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}(j=5/2,7/2)$ dissociation asymptotes. These pair resonances are interpreted as arising from dipole-dipole and higher-order long-range-interaction terms between the Rydberg atoms on the basis of (i) their spectral positions, (ii) their response to static and pulsed electric fields, and (iii) millimeter-wave spectra between pair states correlated to different pair-dissociation asymptotes. The Rydberg-atom-pair states were found to spontaneously decay by Penning ionization and the dynamics of the ionization process were investigated during the first 15 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ following initial photoexcitation. To interpret the experimental observations, a potential model was derived that is based on the numerical determination of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the long-range interaction Hamiltonian. With this potential model, which does not include adjustable parameters, all experimental observations could be accounted for, and the results demonstrate that long-range-interaction models provide a global and accurate description of interactions in ultracold Rydberg gases and that they correctly account for, and enable the analysis of, phenomena as diverse as the formation of Rydberg macrodimers, Penning ionization in dense Rydberg gases, and Rydberg-excitation-blockade effects.
We present the observation of an autoionization of cesium 37D5/2 Rydberg atoms in ultracold gases and analyze the autoionization mechanism. The autoionization process is investigated by varying the delay time tD and Rydberg atomic density. The dependence of ionization signals on Rydberg density shows that the Rydberg density has an effect on not only the initial ion signals but also the evolution of the Rydberg atoms. The results reveal that the initial ionization of 37D5/2 Rydberg atoms is mostly attributed to the blackbody radiation (BBR)-induced photoionization, and the BBR-induced transitions to the nearby Rydberg states that lead to further ionization. Our work plays a significant role in investigating the collision between Rydberg atoms and many-body physics.
Rydberg atoms are increasingly being used as a means of introducing long-range, tunable interactions into atomic systems through their strong dipole-dipole interactions. When creating such interactions, however, there are a variety of potential effects that can occur, such as state (n and/or L) changing or Penning ionization, which can complicate the dynamics of the system. In the following work, such interactions are investigated for Rydberg-Rydberg collisions using very high-n, n ~300, strontium Rydberg atoms in an atomic beam configuration. By exploiting Rydberg blockade and the inherent distribution of atomic velocities present in an atomic beam, it is possible to create a 1D array of moving Rydberg atoms which will naturally overtake each other over time. Measurements of both Penning ionization and state changing for such collisions are made and compared with classical trajectory Monte-Carlo (CTMC) simulations, with both indicating large collisional cross sections on the order of 1 x 10-6 cm2 for Penning ionization and nearly 8 x 10-5 cm2 for state changing interactions. In a second series of experiments, previous work involving doubly-excited Rydberg states is expanded upon by investigating autoionization with high-n, L > 3, Rydberg states. Past research involving autoionization has shown that the effect is strongly L-dependent, with high-L states having significantly smaller autoionizing rates. To create well-defined, L > 3 states, the use of microwave fields to drive various high-n, n ~ 150, n1F3 → (n+1)1G4, (n+2)1H5 transitions is investigated, with spectroscopic measurements of these transitions providing quantum defect values for n1G4 and n1H5 states. These measurements provide a basis for future studies into the L-dependence of high-n, n ~ 300, autoionizing Rydberg atoms, with the eventual goal of creating a long-lived, doubly-excited “planetary” Rydberg state.