Cold Rydberg atoms interactions in population transfer processes

Author(s)

Jader de Souza Cabral

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2013-04-02

Examining board members

Luis Gustavo Marcassa; Claudio Lenz Cesar; Marcelo Martinelli; Cleber Renato Mendonça; Daniel de Miranda Silveira

• Advisor: Luis Gustavo Marcassa

Abstract

In this work, we present an extensive study of long-range interactions between cold Rydberg atoms in the presence of static electric fields. We have observed the population transfer from the quasi-molecular nD + nD state to the (n +2) P state after pulsed excitation for 29 ≤ n ≤ 41 in a sample of Rb trapped atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The transfer rate can be manipulated by the static electric field. To explain such observations, a multilevel theoretical model was used. The study of the time evolution of the population (n +2) P indicates that the dynamics of the process is consistent with a classical interpretation of a nonadiabatic transition in time domain. Using a CW laser excitation, experiments involving states nD + nD, for 37 ≤ n ≤ 45 states and nS + nS for 39 ≤ n ≤ 47, where performed with high spectral resolution. We also performed experiments for both states, nD and nS, to verify the importance of the hyperfine structure of the ground state in the process of population transfer. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/09616-6 - Rydberg atoms in a CO2 optical lattice
• Grantee: Jader de Souza Cabral
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate