Quantum control via a genetic algorithm of the field ionization pathway of a Rydberg electron

Abstract

Quantum control of the pathway along which a Rydberg electron field ionizes is experimentally and computationally demonstrated. Selective field ionization is typically done with a slowly rising electric field pulse. The $(1/n^{\ast }{)}^4$ scaling of the classical ionization threshold leads to a rough mapping between arrival time of the electron signal and principal quantum number of the Rydberg electron. This is complicated by the many avoided level crossings that the electron must traverse on the way to ionization, which in general leads to broadening of the time-resolved field ionization signal. In order to control the ionization pathway, thus directing the signal to the desired arrival time, a perturbing electric field produced by an arbitrary waveform generator is added to a slowly rising electric field. A genetic algorithm evolves the perturbing field in an effort to achieve the target time-resolved field ionization signal.

Corrected minor typographic errors and changed the title

References in corpus (2)

• Quantum Computing
• Shaped-pulse optimisation of coherent soft-x-rays

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Machine Learning for Estimation and Control of Quantum Systems
• Improving the state selectivity of field ionization with quantum control
• Driving many distant atoms into high-fidelity steady state entanglement via Lyapunov control
• Time dependence of few-body Förster interactions among ultracold Rydberg atoms
• Perturbed Field Ionization for Improved State Selectivity