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arXiv · 1601.02567

Atom-pair kinetics with strong electric-dipole interactions

N. Thaicharoen·L. F. Gonçalves·G. Raithel
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Abstract

Rydberg-atom ensembles are switched from a weakly- into a strongly-interacting regime via adiabatic transformation of the atoms from an approximately non-polar into a highly dipolar quantum state. The resultant electric dipole-dipole forces are probed using a device akin to a field ion microscope. Ion imaging and pair-correlation analysis reveal the kinetics of the interacting atoms. Dumbbell-shaped pair correlation images demonstrate the anisotropy of the binary dipolar force. The dipolar $C_3$ coefficient, derived from the time dependence of the images, agrees with the value calculated from the permanent electric-dipole moment of the atoms. The results indicate many-body dynamics akin to disorder-induced heating in strongly coupled particle systems.

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N. Thaicharoen, L. F. Gonçalves, G. Raithel. 2016-01-11. Atom-pair kinetics with strong electric-dipole interactions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.213002

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