Rydberg-atom interactions in the excitation blockade regime

Author(s)

Luís Felipe Barbosa Faria Gonçalves

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2016-12-12

Examining board members

Luis Gustavo Marcassa; Claudio Lenz Cesar; Miled Hassan Youssef Moussa; Antonio Augusto Soares; Raul Celistrino Teixeira

• Advisor: Luis Gustavo Marcassa

Abstract

In this work we have studied some interactions between Rydberg-atoms in a QUEST type optical dipole trap. With this trap we obtained a sample of 1,2 × 106 85Rb atoms in the ground state, in a density of ∼ 1012 atoms/cm3 and average temperature of 60 µK. The Rydberg-atoms were prepared using a two-photon transition from the ground state 5S1/2, through an intermediate state 5P3/2 and then to the desired Rydberg state. We have studied interactions between pairs of atoms at several energy levels, using two different techniques. In the first one, we have monitored the effects of the population transfer in nD states derived from a Förster resonance. We have studied the resonance nD5/2 + nD5/2 → (n + 2)P3/2 + (n 2)F7/2 for states of 37 ≤ n ≤ 47 as a function of of the samples atomic density. For the 37D5/2 state we have also manipulated the same resonance with the application of an external electric field. Our results have shown that this is a binary process, indicated by the quadratic dependence of the transferred population in relation with the excited state. In another experiment, we have studied the interaction between nS1/2 states by monitoring, and controlling, the excitation blockade effect. Here we have shown that it is possible to control the inter-atomic interactions in a quasi-one-dimensional sample of Rydberg-atoms by varying the orientation of an external electric field. We have demonstrated that when polarizing a sample of atoms, in the 50S1/2 state with a field, it starts to interact in a similar way as classic electric-dipoles, where the interaction can be controlled by varying the orientation of the atomic dipoles. Such interaction may even be canceled when the electric dipoles are aligned at an angle of 54,7° related to the internuclear axis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/22309-8 - Microstructures with cold Rydberg atoms
• Grantee: Luís Felipe Barbosa Faria Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate