Related papers: Ultralong-Range Rydberg Molecules in a Divalent-At…
The production of very-high-$n$, $n\sim300$-500, strontium Rydberg atoms is explored using a crossed laser-atom beam geometry. $n$$^{1}$S$_{0}$ and $n$$^{1}$D$_{2}$ states are created by two-photon excitation via the 5s5p $^{1}$P$_{1}$…
The ability to control and tune interactions in ultracold atomic gases has paved the way towards the realization of new phases of matter. Whereas experiments have so far achieved a high degree of control over short-ranged interactions, the…
We present a comprehensive study of the diverse properties of heteronuclear Rydberg molecules, placing a special emphasis on those composed of the light alkali atoms, Li, Na, and K. Electron-atom scattering phase shifts, which determine the…
We explore the external electric field control of a species of ultralong-range molecules that emerge from the interaction of a ground state polar molecule with a Rydberg atom. The external field mixes the Rydberg electronic states and…
We report on our recent progress on the manipulation of single rubidium atoms trapped in optical tweezers and the generation of entanglement between two atoms, each individually trapped in neighboring tweezers. To create an entangled state…
We probe resonant dipolar interactions between ultracold $^{40}$K$^{87}$Rb molecules and Rydberg $^{87}$Rb atoms in an optically trapped ensemble. Through state-selective ionization detection of the KRb molecules, we observe resonant energy…
We present a novel binding mechanism where a neutral Rydberg atom and an atomic ion form a molecular bound state at large internuclear distance. The binding mechanism is based on Stark shifts and level crossings which are induced in the…
Obtaining full control over the internal and external quantum states of molecules is the central goal of ultracold chemistry and allows for the study of coherent molecular dynamics, collisions and tests of fundamental laws of physics. When…
Resonant electric dipole-dipole interactions between cold Rydberg atoms were observed using microwave spectroscopy. Laser-cooled Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap were optically excited to 45d Rydberg states using a pulsed laser. A…
Long-range macrodimers formed by D-state cesium Rydberg atoms are studied in experiments and in calculations. Cesium 62DJ-62DJ Rydberg-atom macrodimers, bonded via long-range multipole interaction, are prepared by two-color…
We propose a novel scheme to efficiently tune the scattering length of two colliding ground-state atoms by off-resonantly coupling the scattering-state to an excited Rydberg-molecular state using laser light. For the s-wave scattering of…
We investigate the fine and spin structure of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field. Each molecule consists of a $^{87}$Rb Rydberg atom whose outer electron interacts via spin-dependent $s$- and p-wave…
Pulsed laser excitation of a dense ultracold Cs vapor has been used to study the pairwise interactions between Cs atoms excited to $n$p$_{3/2}$ Rydberg states of principal quantum numbers in the range $n=22-36$. Molecular resonances were…
The theory is developed for one and two atom interactions when the atom has a Rydberg electron attached to a hyperfine split core state. This situation is relevant for some of the rare earth and alkaline earth atoms that have been proposed…
We study ultracold long-range collisions of heteronuclear alkali-metal dimers with a reservoir gas of alkali-metal Rydberg atoms in a two-photon laser excitation scheme. In a low density regime where molecules remain outside the Rydberg…
Quantum information processing with neutral atoms relies on Rydberg excitation for entanglement generation. While the use of heavy divalent or open-shell elements, such as strontium or ytterbium, has benefits due to their optically active…
We have produced large samples of ultracold $^{88}$Sr$_2$ molecules in the electronic ground state in an optical lattice. The molecules are bound by 0.05 cm$^{-1}$ and are stable for several milliseconds. The fast, all-optical method of…
The ability to generate and control strong long-range interactions via highly excited electronic states has been the foundation for recent breakthroughs in a host of areas, from atomic and molecular physics [1, 2] to quantum optics [3, 4]…
The lifetimes and decay channels of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules created in a dense BEC are examined by monitoring the time evolution of the Rydberg population using field ionization. Studies of molecules with values of principal…
Controlling strongly interacting many-body systems enables the creation of tailored quantum matter, with properties transcending those based solely on single particle physics. Atomic ensembles which are optically driven to a Rydberg state…