Measurement of quantum defect of cesium nP<sub>3/2</sub> (n = 70—94) Rydberg states by using ultraviolet single-photon Rydberg excitation

Abstract

A narrow-linewidth continuous-wave single-frequency tunable 318.6-nm ultraviolet laser system with watt-level output power is developed in our experiment based on well-developed fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and efficient laser frequency conversion technique. Cesium 6S<sub>1/2</sub>—<i>n</i>P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>n</i> = 70—94) single-photon Rydberg excitation in a room-temperature cesium atomic vapor cell is realized by using our ultraviolet laser system. The single-photon Rydberg excitation signal is obtained via the V-type three-level atomic system which contains 6S<sub>1/2</sub> (<i>F</i> = 4) ground state, 6P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>F</i> = 5) excited state and one of <i>n</i>P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>n</i> = 70—94) Rydberg states. When cesium atoms populated on the ground state are partially excited to Rydberg state by the ultraviolet laser, absorption of 852.3-nm probe beam which is locked to 6S<sub>1/2</sub> (<i>F</i> = 4)—6P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>F</i> ′ = 5) hyperfine transition will decrease. In this way, the cesium Rydberg states are detected. The quantum defects for cesium <i>n</i>P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>n</i> = 70—94) Rydberg states are experimentally measured with a high-precision wavemeter. The variation trend of experimentally measured data deviates from that of calculated values. Due to the fact that the cesium vapor cell is positioned in a magnetic shielding tank, the Zeeman effect can be ignored. Considering that the polarizability of Rydberg atoms is proportional to (<i>n</i>*)<sup>7</sup>, in which <i>n</i>* is the effective principal quantum number, the Rydberg screen effect of cesium atomic vapor cell cannot completely protect cesium atoms from being perturbed by an external DC electric field. Therefore the residual DC electric field existing inside the cesium vapor cell will have a significant influence on quantum defect measurement of Rydberg atoms. Using the theoretical model of Stark effect and the relationship between polarizability of Rydberg atoms and the effective principal quantum number <i>n</i>*, the corrected experimental value of quantum defect for cesium <i>n</i>P<sub>3/2</sub> (<i>n</i> = 70—94) Rydberg states is found to be ~(3.5591 ± 0.0007). The corrected experimental value of quantum defect is consistent with the calculation.