Perturbed Field Ionization for Improved State Selectivity

Abstract

Selective field ionization is used to determine the state or distribution of states to which a Rydberg atom is excited. By evolving a small perturbation to the ramped electric field using a genetic algorithm, the shape of the time-resolved ionization signal can be controlled. This allows for separation of signals from pairs of states that would be indistinguishable with unperturbed selective field ionization. Measurements and calculations are presented that demonstrate this technique and shed light on how the perturbation directs the pathway of the electron to ionization. Pseudocode for the genetic algorithm is provided. Using the improved resolution afforded by this technique, quantitative measurements of the $36p_{3/2}+36p_{3/2}\to 36s_{1/2}+37s_{1/2}$ dipole-dipole interaction are made.

References in corpus (6)

• Spatially resolved observation of dipole-dipole interaction between Rydberg atoms
• Manipulating ionization path in a Stark map: Stringent schemes for the selective field ionization in highly excited Rb Rydberg atoms
• Quantum control via a genetic algorithm of the field ionization pathway of a Rydberg electron
• Half Cycle Pulse Train Induced State Redistribution of Rydberg Atoms
• Heating and cooling of electrons in an ultracold neutral plasma using Rydberg atoms
• Improving the state selectivity of field ionization with quantum control

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Rydberg-atom-based single-photon detection for haloscope axion searches
• Time dependence of few-body Förster interactions among ultracold Rydberg atoms
• Quantum Many-Body Scars in Few-Body Dipole-Dipole Interactions