Trapping of Ultracold Rydberg Atoms in a 1012-nm Optical Dipole Potential
T. A. Voronova 1,2, G. A. Vishnyakova 1,2;
1 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
2 P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Abstract
Ultracold Rydberg atomic ensembles provide broad opportunities for both fundamental physics research and applied quantum technologies. Owing to their high sensitivity to electromagnetic fields, they represent a promising platform for precision detection of microwave radiation and weak electric fields, with applications in laser spectroscopy and quantum sensing [1]. However, practical implementations of such systems are limited by the difficulty of trapping highly excited atoms. Upon excitation to a Rydberg state, the atomic size and polarizability increase by orders of magnitude, making the manipulation and controlled investigation of Rydberg atoms considerably more challenging. The development of alternative trapping techniques, particularly those based on optical dipole traps, therefore represents an important experimental objective.
In this context, laser radiation at a wavelength of 1012 nm is of particular interest. In the two-photon excitation scheme for rubidium (5S₁/₂ → 6P₃/₂ → NS/ND), this wavelength is used at the intermediate excitation step for populating Rydberg states [2]. A key advantage of 1012-nm radiation is its “magic-wavelength” character, arising from the equality of the dynamic polarizabilities of the ground and excited states. This condition provides matching optical trapping potentials for the two electronic-state configurations, compensates light shifts, and helps preserve the coherence of the quantum system. Furthermore, the independence of the transition resonance frequency from the local laser intensity within the trap enables the investigation of long-range Rydberg interactions without distortions caused by spatially inhomogeneous light shifts.
In the planned experiment, the Rabi frequency of the excitation process is expected to reach several megahertz, satisfying the requirements for the use of Rydberg atomic ensembles in quantum sensing and quantum information processing devices.
[1] Degen C. L. et al., Reviews of Modern Physics, 3, 89 (2017).
[2] Shao X. Q. et al., Applied Physics Reviews, 3, 11 (2024).
Speaker
Tatiana Voronova
MIPT
Russia
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