Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-28-2011
Abstract
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 (F¨orster 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,mj ) fine structure levels that have been selectively excited. The data are compared to calculated spectra.
Recommended Citation
Altiere, Emily; Fahey, Donald P.; Noel, Michael W.; Smith, Rachel J.; and Carroll, Thomas J., "Dipole-Dipole Interaction Between Rubidium Rydberg Atoms" (2011). Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications. 4.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/physics_astro_fac/4
Comments
Originally published in Physical Review A, 84, 053431. Copyright 2011, American Physical Society.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.053431