Coherent Control of Strongly Interacting Rydberg Atoms and Molecules
Apr 14, 2010
3:30PM to 4:30PM
Date/Time
Date(s) - 14/04/2010
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Title: Coherent Control of Strongly Interacting Rydberg Atoms and Molecules
Speaker: Dr. Tilman Pfau, University of Stuttgart
Institute: University of Stuttgart, Physics Institute, Atoms & Quantum Optics Group
Location: ABB 102
Description:
We report on a strongly interacting frozen Rydberg gas excited from a Rb BEC. Here the long-range strong repulsive van der Waals interaction is responsible for novel many-body physics. Universal scaling behaviour due to an underlying quantum phase transition is observed [1]. Rydberg dressing atoms can also be used to tailor the interaction in quantum gases [2]. In this context we also discuss possible consequences of the recent observation of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules (dimers and trimers) [3]. Finally we report on our effort to realize mesoscopic quantum ensembles based on thermal vapour cells [4].
References
[1] R. Löw, H. Weimer, U. Raitzsch, R. Heidemann, V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, H. P. Büchler, and T. Pfau, Phys. Rev. A 80, 033422 (2009), H. Weimer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, and H. P. Büchler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 250601 (2008).
[2] J. Honer, H. Weimer, T. Pfau, and H. P. Büchler, in preparation
[3] V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. P. Shaffer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, Nature 458, 1005 (2009).
[4] H. Kübler, J. P. Shaffer, T. Baluktsian, R. Löw, and T. Pfau, Nature Photonics 4, 112 (2010).