Microwave Transitions in Pairs of Rb Rydberg Atoms

Abstract

We have observed microwave transitions between pairs of cold Rb atoms, specifically, transitions between the molecular nd(5/2)nd(5/2) and (n+1)d(j)(n-2)f states for 41≤n≤44. (We use the separated atom limits as labels.) The transition is allowed because the dipole-dipole induced configuration interaction between the nd(5/2)nd(5/2) state and the energetically close (n+2)p(3/2)(n-2)f state leads to an admixture of the latter into the former. Such transitions may provide a way of selecting closely spaced pairs of atoms.