Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv · physics/0606165

Manipulation of ultracold atoms in dressed adiabatic radio frequency potentials

Abstract

We explore properties of atoms whose magnetic hyperfine sub-levels are coupled by an external magnetic radio frequency (rf) field. We perform a thorough theoretical analysis of this driven system and present a number of systematic approximations which eventually give rise to dressed adiabatic radio frequency potentials. The predictions of this analytical investigation are compared to numerically exact results obtained by a wave packet propagation. We outline the versatility and flexibility of this new class of potentials and demonstrate their potential use to build atom optical elements such as double-wells, interferometers and ringtraps. Moreover, we perform simulations of interference experiments carried out in rf induced double-well potentials. We discuss how the nature of the atom-field coupling mechanism gives rise to a decrease of the interference contrast.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

I. Lesanovsky, S. Hofferberth, J. Schmiedmayer, P. Schmelcher. 2006-06-19. Manipulation of ultracold atoms in dressed adiabatic radio frequency potentials. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.74.033619

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Observation of s-p Coupling in Ultralong-Range Rydberg Molecules

Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules, formed by the interaction between a highly excited Rydberg atom and a ground-state atom, provide a unique platform for exploring quantum phenomena spanning nanometer- to micrometer distances as well as exotic few-body interactions. The molecular binding arises from electron-atom scattering, which is conventionally described by an independent s- and p-wave channels picture. Here we report the experimental observation of s-p coupling in Rb(nS)-Rb(5S) ultralong-range Rydberg molecules via high-resolution photoassociation spectroscopy. By varying the principal quantum number n from 31 to 36, we resolve an avoided crossing between the s- and p-wave molecular states: whenever a vibrational level bound by the p-wave well approaches one bound by the s-wave well in energy, the two states are mixed by the off-diagonal coupling U_sp, and the shifted s-wave level is identified, which is consistent with theoretical predictions. This mixing is most pronounced for low-node p-wave molecules, whose binding energies lie closer to those of the s-wave molecules. The resulting level repulsion and redistribution of spectral intensity reveal the mixed s-p character of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules and provide a more precise molecular spectroscopy.

physics.atom-ph↗

Wavefront engineering with atomic Huygens' surfaces made simple

Atomic arrays provide a cooperative platform for light-mediated interactions in nonlocal metasurfaces which can operate in the quantum regime without nanofabricated optical elements or intrinsic material absorption. We present a minimal atomic implementation to harness wavefront engineering and create a near-ideal intrinsic atomic Huygens' surface. A simple bilayer square lattice with a two-atom unit cell, not limited to small lattice spacings, provides near-unity reflectionless transmission and a full $2π$ phase control of transmitted light without the localized site-dependent level shifts of previous proposals. This simplification is achieved through nonlocal radiative excitations that provide the familiar electric-dipole response with even radiation parity as well as an odd-parity radiation channel whose leading multipolar interpretation combines magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole contributions in atoms exhibiting only electric dipole transitions. This eliminates the need to simultaneously excite pure electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole responses with exactly matched radiation. We derive a two-mode model for this response and show that it accurately captures full coupled-dipole simulations near the optimal lattice spacings. Because of the wide applicability of coupled-dipole models, the relevance of our microscopic analysis extends beyond atomic physics to nanostructured metasurfaces. Moreover, the same platform also connects directly to established subradiance-protected single-photon storage protocols, suggesting a route toward combining wavefront engineering, storage, and retrieval in a simple atomic bilayer.

physics.atom-ph↗

Ultracold polar molecules for quantum science and technology

Ultracold polar molecules present a rich platform for experimental quantum science leveraging their unique properties. Of particular relevance is the intrinsic electric dipole moment of the molecule, which results in strong coupling to microwave fields and can be used to engineer long-range, anisotropic, and tunable dipole-dipole interactions. Such interactions can generate entanglement between molecules and enable the study of novel quantum many-body phenomena in parameter regimes inaccessible in other systems. Modern experiments in optical tweezers and optical lattices have demonstrated controlled interactions between molecules in coherent quantum states, and recently bulk gases of molecules have been cooled to quantum degeneracy. Motivated by these landmark advances, we present this article to explain many of the key concepts relevant to current research in the field.

physics.atom-ph↗