Scanning electron microscopy of Rydberg-excited Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We report on the realization of high resolution electron microscopy of Rydberg-excited ultracold atomic samples. The implementation of an ultraviolet laser system allows us to excite the atom, with a single-photon transition, to Rydberg states. By using the electron microscopy technique during the Rydberg excitation of the atoms, we observe a giant enhancement in the production of ions. This is due to $l$-changing collisions, which broaden the Rydberg level and therefore increase the excitation rate of Rydberg atoms. Our results pave the way for the high resolution spatial detection of Rydberg atoms in an atomic sample.

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Finite-range interacting Ising quantum magnets with Rydberg atoms in optical lattices - From Rydberg superatoms to crystallization
• Cavity polaritons with Rydberg blockade and long-range interactions