Recombination during expansion of ultracold plasma

Signals of ultracold plasma are observed by two-photon ionization of laser-cooled caesium atoms in a magneto-optical trap. Recombination of ions and electrons into Rydberg atoms during the expansion of ultracold plasma is investigated by using state-selective field ionization spectroscopy. The dependences of recombination on initial electron temperature (1--70 K) and initial ion density ($ \sim $10$^{10}$ cm$^{ - 3})$ are investigated. The measured dependence on initial ion density is $N^{1.547\pm 0.004}$ at a delay time of 5 $\mu $s. The recombination rate rapidly declines as initial electron temperature increases when delay time is increased. The distributions of Rydberg atoms on different values of principal quantum number $n$, i.e. $n=30$--60, at an initial electron temperature of 3.3 K are also investigated. The main experimental results are approximately explained by the three-body recombination theory.     

Experimental Research of Spontaneous Evolution from Ultracold Rydberg Atoms to Plasma

The spontaneous evolution from ultracold Rydberg atoms to plasma is investigated in a caesium MOT by using the method of field ionization. The plasma transferred from atoms in different Rydberg states （n = 22-32） are obtained experimentally. Dependence of the threshold time of evolving to plasma and the threshold number of initial Rydberg atoms on the principal quantum number of initial Rydberg states is studied. The experimental results are in agreement with hot-cold Rydberg-Rydberg atom collision ionization theory.     

铯47D精细能级超冷里德堡原子自由演化的动力学研究

用连续窄线宽激光器将超冷铯里德堡原子分别激发到47D_3/2, 47D_5/2精细态, 观察了处于里德堡精细态的铯原子向超冷铯等离子体自由演化的过程, 详细对比了不同精细态的铯里德堡原子预电离时间、电离速率以及等离子体的转化效率. 将里德堡原子快速转化为等离子体的过程解释为局域势阱内由预电离产生的电子与里德堡原子的快速碰撞导致的雪崩电离.     

Mechanical effect of van der waals interactions observed in real time in an ultracold Rydberg gas

We present time-resolved spectroscopic measurements of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions between two Rydberg atoms in an ultracold gas, revealing the pair dynamics induced by long-range van der Waals interactions between the atoms. By detuning the excitation laser, a specific pair distribution is prepared. Penning ionization on a microsecond time scale serves as a probe for the pair dynamics under the influence of the attractive long-range forces. Comparison with a Monte Carlo model not only explains all spectroscopic features but also gives quantitative information about the interaction potentials. The results imply that the interaction-induced ionization rate can be influenced by the excitation laser. Surprisingly, interaction-induced ionization is also observed for Rydberg states with purely repulsive interactions.     

An experimental approach for investigating many-body phenomena in Rydberg-interacting quantum systems

Recent developments in the study of ultracold Rydberg gases demand an adwanced level of experimental sophistication, in which high atomic and optical densities must be combined with excellent control of external fields and sensitive Rydberg atom detection. We describe a tailored experimental system used to produce and study Rydberg-interacting atoms excited from dense ultracold atomic gases. The experiment has been optimized for fast duty cycles using a high flux cold atom source and a three beam optical dipole trap. The latter enables tuning of the atomic density and temperature over several orders of magnitude, all the way to the Bose--Einstein condensation transition. An elec- trode structure surrounding the atoms allows for precise control over electric fields and single-particle sensitive field ionization detection of Rydberg atoms. We review two experiments which highlight the influence of strong Rydberg---Rydberg interactions on different many-body systems. First, the Rydberg blockade effect is used to pre-structure an atomic gas prior to its spontaneous evolution into an ultracold plasma. Second, hybrid states of photons and atoms called dark-state polaritons are studied. By looking at the statistical distribution of Rydberg excited atoms we reveal correlations between dark-state polaritons. These experiments will ultimately provide a deeper understanding of many-body phenomena in strongly-interacting regimes, including the study of strongly-coupled plasmas and interfaces between atoms and light at the quantum level.     

Novel Experimental Method in the Study of Double Rydberg States by Laser Resonance Excitation

1.IntroductionSequentia1multisteplaserexcitationhasbeenextensivelyusedtostudydoublyexcit-edstatesofa1ka1ine-earthatoms.Mostoftheinvestig8tionsconcernedthedoublyexcitedstatesinwhichoneofthetwovalenceelectronsishighlyexcitedandtheotherisweaklyexcited[1].Inthecasewhenbothvalenceelectronarehighlyexcited(doubleRydbergstates),onlyafewresultswereobtainedduetothelimitutioninexPerimentaltech-nique['j.ThelimitationarosefromvariousaSpectS.First,duringthesequentiallaserex-citationofdoubleRydbergstatesw…     

Local blockade of Rydberg excitation in an ultracold gas

In the laser excitation of ultracold atoms to Rydberg states, we observe a dramatic suppression caused by van der Waals interactions. This behavior is interpreted as a local excitation blockade: Rydberg atoms strongly inhibit excitation of their neighbors. We measure suppression, relative to isolated atom excitation, by up to a factor of 6.4. The dependences of this suppression on both laser irradiance and atomic density are in good agreement with a mean-field model. These results are an important step towards using ultracold Rydberg atoms in quantum information processing.     

超冷里德堡原子的产生以及探测

利用激光冷却与俘获技术获得冷原子,由双光子激发产生超冷里德堡原子,利用场电离法得到了里德堡原子ns和nd态的离子谱图;再将激光波长固定在6p3/2-34d态的共振跃迁线上,得到了离子和里德堡原子的TOF(Time of Flight)图,并对实验结果做了分析.     

Cold and ultracold Rydberg atoms in strong magnetic fields

Cold Rydberg atoms exposed to strong magnetic fields possess unique properties which open the pathway for an intriguing many-body dynamics taking place in Rydberg gases, consisting of either matter or anti-matter systems. We review both the foundations and recent developments of the field in the cold and ultracold regime where trapping and cooling of Rydberg atoms have become possible. Exotic states of moving Rydberg atoms, such as giant dipole states, are discussed in detail, including their formation mechanisms in a strongly magnetized cold plasma. Inhomogeneous field configurations influence the electronic structure of Rydberg atoms, and we describe the utility of corresponding effects for achieving tightly trapped ultracold Rydberg atoms. We review recent work on large, extended cold Rydberg gases in magnetic fields and their formation in strongly magnetized ultracold plasmas through collisional recombination. Implications of these results for current antihydrogen production experiments are pointed out, and techniques for the trapping and cooling of such atoms are investigated.     

Ab initio calculations of the ionization spectrum of SO2

The ionization spectrum of sulfur dioxide has been successfully studied by using the symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration-interaction （SAC-CI） general-R and SD-R methods and the basis set correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta （cc-pVTZ）. The SAC-CI general-R method reproduces the experimental spectrum well for both the main peaks and the satellite peaks of ionization spectrum of SO2. The sequence of ionic states corresponding to main peaks of SO2 has been re-determined according to the SAC-CI conclusions and it is reordered as X^2A1, A^2B2, B2A2, C^2B1,D^2A1, E^2B2 and F^2A1. Besides, the equilibrium structures and adiabatic ionization potentials （AIPs） of ionic states of main peaks of SO2 are calculated by using the SAC-CI SD-R method.     

Magnetic trapping of ultracold Rydberg atoms

We investigate the quantum dynamics of ultracold Rydberg atoms being exposed to a magnetic quadrupole field. A Hamiltonian describing the coupled dynamics of the electronic and center of mass motion is derived. Employing an adiabatic approach, the potential energy surfaces for intra-n-manifold mixing are computed. By determining the quantum states of the center of mass motion, we demonstrate that trapped states can be achieved if the total angular momentum of the atom is sufficiently large. This holds even if the extension of the electronic Rydberg state becomes equal to or even exceeds that of the ultracold center of mass motion.     

Autoionization of an ultracold Rydberg gas through resonant dipole coupling

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 interaction and is in principle possible in a static system. It is related to the process of intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD). In addition, we include the interaction-induced motion of the atoms and the effect of multi-particle systems in this work. We find that the probability for this ionization mechanism can be increased in many-particle systems featuring attractive or repulsive van der Waals interactions. However, the rates for ionization through resonant dipole coupling are very low. It is thus unlikely that this process contributes to the autoionization of Rydberg gases in the form presented here, but it may still act as a trigger for secondary ionization processes. As our picture involves only binary interactions, it remains to be investigated if collective effects of an ensemble of atoms can significantly influence the ionization probability. Nevertheless our calculations may serve as a starting point for the investigation of more complex systems, such as the coupling of many pair states proposed in [P.J. Tanner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 043002 (2008)].     

Rydberg trimers and excited dimers bound by internal quantum reflection

In a combined experimental and theoretical effort we report on two novel types of ultracold long-range Rydberg molecules. First, we demonstrate the creation of triatomic molecules of one Rydberg atom and two ground-state atoms in a single-step photoassociation. Second, we assign a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop. The properties of the Rydberg molecules identified in this work qualify them as prototypes for a new type of chemistry at ultracold temperatures.     

Eu原子4f~76snlRydberg态的研究

利用三步双色共振激发技术和三步三色孤立实激发技术,系统地研究了铕原子在42250—44510 cm~(-1)能域内的光谱特性,提供了该能域内56个束缚高激发态的光谱信息.为了能确定这些态的光谱归属,进行了两方面的探索:第一,观察能否利用孤立实激发技术,把处于这些态上的铕原子进一步共振激发到自电离态,从而推断这些态属于单电子激发的束缚Rydberg态还是属于双电子激发的价态,并对Rydberg态的电子组态进行了光谱确认;第二,通过计算这些态相对于各个电离阈的量子亏损并观察它们分别收敛于哪个电离阈,以便获取其主量子数的信息.最后,设计并采用了三种不同的激发路径,分别将原子布居到同一高激发能域并探测它们在该能域的光电离光谱.通过比较这些光谱的异同并结合上述激发路径所对应的跃迁选择定则,便可惟一地确定这些高激发态的总角动量.研究发现:所探测到的高激发束缚态只有三个属于单电子激发的束缚Rydberg态,其余都是价态.本文确定了这三个Rydberg态的电子组态和原子状态.     

Field ionization process of Eu 4f~76snp Rydberg states

The field ionization process of the Eu 4f76 snp Rydberg states, converging to the first ionization limit, 4f76s9S4, is systematically investigated. The spectra of the Eu 4f76 snp Rydberg states are populated with three-step laser excitation, and detected by electric field ionization(EFI) method. Two different kinds of the EFI pulses are applied after laser excitation to observe the possible impacts on the EFI process. The exact EFI ionization thresholds for the 4f76 snp Rydberg states can be determined by observing the corresponding EFI spectra. In particular, some structures above the EFI threshold are found in the EFI spectra, which may be interpreted as the effect from black body radiation(BBR). Finally, the scaling law of the EFI threshold for the Eu 4f76 snp Rydberg states with the effective quantum number is built.     

Ionization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">nS</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">nP</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">nD</Emphasis> lithium,potassium, and cesium Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation

The results of theoretical calculations of the blackbody ionization rates of lithium, potassium, and cesium atoms residing in Rydberg states are presented. The calculations are performed for nS, nP, and nD states in a wide range of principal quantum numbers, n = 8?65, for blackbody radiation temperatures T = 77, 300, and 600 K. The calculations are performed using the known quasi-classical formulas for the photoionization cross sections and for the radial matrix elements of transitions in the discrete spectrum. The effect of the blackbody-radiation-induced population redistribution between Rydberg states on the blackbody ionization rates measured under laboratory conditions is quantitatively analyzed. Simple analytical formulas that approximate the numerical results and that can be used to estimate the blackbody ionization rates of Rydberg atoms are presented. For the S series of lithium, the rate of population of high-lying Rydberg levels by blackbody radiation is found to anomalously behave as a function of n. This anomaly is similar to the occurrence of the Cooper minimum in the discrete spectrum.     

Superexcited states of carbon monoxide studied by fast-electron impact

Absolute optical oscillator strength density and double differential cross section spectra of CO below 120 eV are determined by fast electron impact. Some peaks above the first ionization threshold stand out as the momentum transfer square K2 increases. The doubly excited Rydberg states converging to C 2∑^＋, D ^2∏, and F ^2∏ states of CO^＋, respectively, are confirmed in our spectra. Another peak at around 32eV is assigned to the transition of （3σ）^-1（2π）^1^1∏←X^1∑^＋.     

The spectrum of SiO in the vacuum ultraviolet region

The absorption spectrum of SiO has been photographed at high resolution in the region 1200–1500 Å. Several new electronic states have been observed, valence states as well as Rydberg states. Tables of the molecular constants of all the known states of SiO are given. Due to interactions between the electronic states, the constants of all states analyzed vary irregularly. From the Rydberg series a value of the ionization potential has been derived. It agrees with the value earlier reported, 11.6 ± 0.2 eV.     

Rydberg atom formation in ultracold plasmas: small energy transfer with large consequences

We present extensive Monte Carlo calculations of electron-impact-induced transitions between highly excited Rydberg states and provide accurate rate coefficients. For moderate energy changes, our calculations confirm the widely applied expressions in P. Mansbach and J. Keck [Phys. Rev. 181, 275 (1969)] but reveal strong deviations at small energy transfer. Simulations of ultracold plasmas demonstrate that these corrections significantly impact the short-time dynamics of three-body Rydberg atom formation. The improved rate coefficients yield quantitative agreement with recent ultracold plasma experiments.     

The spectrum of Si18O in the vacuum ultraviolet region

The absorption spectrum of Si¹⁸O has been photographed at high resolution in the region 1200–1500 Å. Nine of the recently reported eleven excited states found in this region from a study of Si¹⁶O have been verified and their v numbering settled. From the Rydberg states a value of the ionization potential has been derived.