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Physics

Spinning Up Rydberg Atoms Extends Their Life

Michael Schirber

Published May 3, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Researchers record the longest Rydberg-atom lifetime by placing strontium atoms in "circular" states, where the outer electrons move in planet-like orbits.
DOI
10.1103/physics.17.s52

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In recent years, advances in optical tweezers arrays have enabled the trapping and control of individual atoms. This makes it possible to simulate condensed matter systems by arranging atoms in an array that mimics the crystalline structure of real materials. This approach, known as quantum simulation, was first envisioned by R. Feynman and is now being implemented by several research groups worldwide. In order to induce interactions between atoms, they are prepared in highly excited atomic states, known as Rydberg states. In particular, circular Rydberg states, which possess maximal angular momentum, exhibit lifetimes of several milliseconds, much longer than those of other Rydberg states. This property makes them particularly interesting for the development of new quantum technologies. In this work, we present the first building blocks of a quantum simulator based on circular Rydberg states of strontium atoms. This includes the development of a new cryogenic apparatus in which individual strontium atoms are trapped in optical tweezers. Using an alkaline-earth element allows us to exploit its two valence electrons for different tasks. One electron is excited to the circular state with principal quantum number n = 52, while the ionic core behaves as a Sr+ ion, which can be directly trapped by the tweezers. Moreover, we observe coherent oscillations between singlet and triplet spin states, due to the spin-orbit coupling of the electron in the circular state. These oscillations allow us to measure, with high precision, QED corrections to the Landé g5S1/2 factor of the ground state of Sr+.
Measuring the Sr+^++ 5s1/2_{1/2}1/2​ Landé ggg-factor Using Singlet-Triplet Oscillations in a Circular Rydberg State of Strontium
Circular states of strontium are promising platforms for quantum technologies. They exhibit much longer lifetimes than laser-accessible Rydberg states and possess an optically active ionic core that can be manipulated with laser light. Here we trap circular states in optical tweezers by exploiting the dynamical polarizability of the ionic core. We measure the decay of the orbital component of a n=51 circular state and observe singlet-triplet spin oscillations arising from the interplay of vector light shifts induced by the optical tweezers, spin-orbit coupling associated with the Rydberg electron, and the difference in Landé ggg-factor between the ionic core and the Rydberg electrons. By observing the two electron spin dynamics, we measure the spin-orbit interaction and the correction δg∼δg \simδg∼ 10^(-5) of the Landé ggg-factor of the Sr+^++ 5s1/2_{1/2}1/2​ ionic core electron with respect to that of a free electron. This provides a first high-precision measurement of gSr+,5s1/2g_{\textrm{Sr}^+, 5s_{1/2}}gSr+,5s1/2​​ = 2.002290(1).