Dipole-dipole interaction between rubidium Rydberg atoms

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.053431· OSTI ID:22093580

Altiere, Emily; Fahey, Donald P.; Noel, Michael W. ^[1]; Smith, Rachel J.; Carroll, Thomas J. ^[2]

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1. Physics Department, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426 (United States)

Ultracold Rydberg atoms in a static electric field can exchange energy via the dipole-dipole interaction. The Stark effect shifts the energy levels of the atoms which tunes the energy exchange into resonance at specific values of the electric field (Foerster resonances). We excite rubidium atoms to Rydberg states by focusing either a 480 nm beam from a tunable dye laser or a pair of diode lasers into a magneto-optical trap. The trap lies at the center of a configuration of electrodes. We scan the electric field by controlling the voltage on the electrodes while measuring the fraction of atoms that interact. Dipole-dipole interaction spectra are presented for initially excited rubidium nd states for n=31 to 46 and for four different pairs of initially excited rubidium ns states. We also present the dipole-dipole interaction spectra for individual rubidium 32d (j, m{sub j}) fine structure levels that have been selectively excited. The data are compared to calculated spectra.

• OSTI ID: 22093580
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 84; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
DIPOLES
DYE LASERS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FINE STRUCTURE
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
RESONANCE
RUBIDIUM
RYDBERG STATES
STARK EFFECT
TRAPS