Measurement of quantum defects of nS and nD states using field ionization spectroscopy in ultracold cesium atoms

Abstract

This paper reports that ultracold atoms are populated into different nS and nD Rydberg states (n = 25∼52) by two-photon excitation. The ionization spectrum of an ultracold Rydberg atom is acquired in a cesium magneto-optical trap by using the method of pulse field ionization. This denotes nS and nD states in the ionization spectrum and fits the data of energy levels of different Rydberg states to obtain quantum defects of nS and nD states.