Strong Spin-Motion Coupling in the Ultrafast Dynamics of Rydberg Atoms

Abstract

Rydberg atoms in optical lattices and tweezers is now a well established platform for simulating quantum spin systems. However, the role of the atoms' spatial wavefunction has not been examined in detail experimentally. Here, we show a strong spin-motion coupling emerging from the large variation of the interaction potential over the wavefunction spread. We observe its clear signature on the ultrafast many-body nanosecond-dynamics of atoms excited to a Rydberg $S$ state, using picosecond pulses, from an unity-filling atomic Mott-insulator. We also propose a novel approach to tune arbitrarily the strength of the spin-motion coupling relative to the motional energy scale set by trapping potentials. Our work provides a new direction for exploring the dynamics of strongly-correlated quantum systems by adding the motional degree of freedom to the Rydberg simulation toolbox.

v2: revised version accepted in PRL

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Cited by in corpus (9)

• Ultra-precise holographic optical tweezers array
• Interacting Circular Rydberg Atoms Trapped in Optical Tweezers
• Benchmarking direct and indirect dipolar spin-exchange interactions between two Rydberg atoms
• Resonant stroboscopic Rydberg dressing: electron-motion coupling and multi-body interactions
• Generation of 480 nm picosecond pulses for ultrafast excitation of Rydberg atoms
• Rydberg atom arrays as quantum simulators for molecular dynamics
• Probing spin-motion coupling of two Rydberg atoms by a Stern-Gerlach-like experiment
• Generation of Motional Squeezed States for Neutral Atoms in Optical Tweezers
• Optimization of conveyance of quantum particles by moving potential well