Ion imaging of cold Rydberg atoms

• Grant number: 11/13046-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: January 07, 2012
• End date: January 13, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Grantee: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Visiting researcher: James P. Shaffer
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Oklahoma (OU), United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Samples of cold Rydberg atoms have been proposed as ideal systems to perform quantum computing. This is because these atoms present ultralong-range interactions, usually in the range of 5 to 10¼m for a principal quantum number ranging between 30 and 70. There have been several theoretical proposals using such interaction between the internal states of atoms to generate entanglement, and thus create the qubit. However, these same interactions may lead to other phenomena, such as energy transfer and collisions, which destroy the coherence of the system and therefore the qubit. One way to solve this problem would be to trap each atom individually. Such proposal involves trapping Rydberg atoms in an optical lattice using a CO2 laser in one dimension, in this case the atoms will be separated from each other by 5 mm. To implement this proposal it is necessary to distinguish the spatial positions of each atom, including the atomic state. This system is already working in our laboratory and it is under the final tests, thanks to Prof. Shaffer. However, we do not have experience with imaging of charged particles. For this reason the visit of Prof. Shaffer is of fundamental importance in this project. He has extensive experience in this matter and certainly will help us get the first images. (AU)