Lifetimes of ultralong-range Strontium Rydberg molecules in a dense BEC

F Camargo,S Yoshida,F B Dunning,J Pérez-Ríos,R Ding,J Burgdörfer,J D Whalen,T C Killian

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/875/9/082001

Abstract

SynopsisThe lifetimes and decay channels of ultralong-range strontium Rydberg molecules that contain tens to hundreds of ground-state atoms within the electron orbit are examined by monitoring the time evolution of the Rydberg population using field ionization.

Highlights

84Sr atoms cooled in a magneto-optical trap are loaded into an optical dipole trap where they are subject to evaporative cooling to create a BEC with a peak density of ~4x1014 cm–3
A typical excitation spectrum is included in Fig. 1, expressed as a function of detuning from the atomic line
The sharp peak at zero detuning results from excitation of thermal noncondensed atoms present in the trap, the broad feature extending to the red results from molecular excitation, the larger the detuning the larger the number of atoms present in the molecule

Summary

Introduction

Two-photon excitation is used to create Rydberg molecules with values of principal quantum number n in the range 49≤n≤72. A typical excitation spectrum is included, expressed as a function of detuning from the atomic line.

Results

Conclusion