Dynamics of Low-Density Ultracold Rydberg Gases

Abstract

Population dynamics in weakly-excited clouds of ultracold ${}^{87}$Rb Rydberg atoms were studied by means of trap loss, fluorescence detection, and state dependent stimulated emission. Rydberg atoms were excited to various nl Rydberg states via continuous two-photon excitation from a magneto-optical trap. A stimulated emission probe laser was then used to bring the Rydberg atoms down to the 6P${}_{3/2}$ state, allowing state-dependent detection of the Rydberg atoms. Measurements of trap loss and fluorescent emission reveal information about the evolution of the Rydberg populations. In particular, population in the initial Rydberg state quickly transfers to other Rydberg states by a non-collisional mechanism, likely superradiant emission. The trap-loss measurements are consistent with black-body ionization as the dominant loss mechanism.

9 pages, 7 figures

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Cited by in corpus (24)

• Quantum information with Rydberg atoms
• Dipole blockade in a cold Rydberg atomic sample
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• Electromagnetically induced transparency of an interacting cold Rydberg ensemble
• Emergent dark states from superradiant dynamics in multilevel atoms in a cavity
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• Mechanisms for Lasing with Cold Atoms as the Gain Medium
• Two-electron excitation of an interacting cold Rydberg gas
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• Superradiance in Inverted Multi-level Atomic Clouds
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• Quantum criticality driven by the cavity coupling in Rabi-dimer model
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