$C_6$ coefficients for interacting Rydberg atoms and alkali-metal dimers

Abstract

We study the van der Waals interaction between Rydberg alkali-metal atoms with fine structure ($n^2{L}_j$; $L\le 2$) and heteronuclear alkali-metal dimers in the ground rovibrational state ($X^1{\Sigma }^{+}$; $v=0$, $J=0$). We compute the associated $C_6$ dispersion coefficients of atom-molecule pairs involving ${}^{133}$Cs and ${}^{85}$Rb atoms interacting with KRb, LiCs, LiRb, and RbCs molecules. The obtained dispersion coefficients can be accurately fitted to a state-dependent polynomial $O(n^7)$ over the range of principal quantum numbers $40\le n\le 150$. For all atom-molecule pairs considered, Rydberg states $n^2{S}_j$ and $n^2{P}_j$ result in attractive $1/R^6$ potentials. In contrast, $n^2{D}_j$ states can give rise to repulsive potentials for specific atom-molecule pairs. The interaction energy at the LeRoy distance approximately scales as $n^{-5}$ for $n>40$. For intermediate values of $n\lesssim 40$, both repulsive and attractive interaction energies in the order of $10-100\mu$K can be achieved with specific atomic and molecular species. The accuracy of the reported $C_6$ coefficients is limited by the quality of the atomic quantum defects, with relative errors $\Delta C_6/C_6$ estimated to be no greater than 1\% on average.

14 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. SM available upon request

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Cited by in corpus (3)

• Observation of Rydberg blockade due to the charge-dipole interaction between an atom and a polar molecule
• Strong zero-field Förster resonances in K-Rb Rydberg systems
• Long-range additive and nonadditive potentials in a hybrid system: Ground state atom, excited state atom, and ion