The Structure of Rydberg Atoms in Strong Static Fields

Valentin N. Ostrovsky, Erik Horsdal-Pedersen

C. Y. Lee, J. M. Hettema, Thomas F. Gallagher +1 more

We report measurements of the microwave ionization of Rydberg atoms as a function of static electric field, for static fields from zero to the classical ionization limit. The microwave-ionization threshold field shows clear structure as a function of the static field, in some static field regimes actually increasing as the static field is increased. The dependence of the microwave field can be understood by considering the dynamics of the levels in a temporally varying field.

Baiwen Li

João D. Rodrigues, Hugo Terças, Luís F. Gonçalves +2 more

We describe the emergence of strong spatial correlations, akin to liquidlike behavior and crystallization effects, in low- (one- and two-)dimensional gases of cold Rydberg atoms. The presence of an external electric field permanently polarizes the atoms, which became highly correlated due to the long-range dipole-dipole interaction. We describe a theoretical approach particularly suited for strongly coupled systems and numerically obtain both the two-particle distribution function and the static structure factor. The experimental implementation of such highly interacting systems is discussed, including detailed calculations of the interaction strength for different Rydberg states. The results provide insights into many-body effects associated with strongly interacting Rydberg atoms, including the possibility of observing highly ordered phases.

Daniel Kleppner, Michael G. Littman, Myron L. Zimmerman

V A Davydkin, B. A. Zon