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arXiv · 1705.08345

Observation of the motional Stark shift in low magnetic fields

Manuel Kaiser·Jens Grimmel·Lara Torralbo-Campo·Markus Mack·Florian Karlewski·Florian Jessen·Nils Schopohl·József Fortágh
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Abstract

We report on the observation of the motional Stark effect of highly excited $^{87}$Rb Rydberg atoms moving in the presence of a weak homogeneous magnetic field in a vapor cell. Employing electromagnetically induced transparency for spectroscopy of an atomic vapor, we observe the velocity-, quantum state- and magnetic field-dependent transition frequencies between the ground and Rydberg excited states. For atoms moving at velocities around $400\,\mathrm{m/s}$, the principal quantum number $n=100$ of the valence electron, and a magnetic field of $B=100\,\mathrm{G}$, we measure a motional Stark shift of $\sim10\,\mathrm{MHz}$. Our experimental results are supported by numerical calculations based on a diagonalization of the effective Hamiltonian governing the valence electron of $^{87}$Rb in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields.

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Manuel Kaiser, Jens Grimmel, Lara Torralbo-Campo, Markus Mack, Florian Karlewski, Florian Jessen, Nils Schopohl, József Fortágh. 2017-05-23. Observation of the motional Stark shift in low magnetic fields. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.96.043401

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