Abstract
The strong interaction between Rydberg atoms can be used to control the strength and character of the interatomic interaction in ultracold gases by weakly dressing the atoms with a Rydberg state. Elaborate theoretical proposals for the realization of various complex phases and applications in quantum simulation exist. Also a simple model has been already developed that describes the basic idea of Rydberg dressing in a two-atom basis. However, an experimental realization has been elusive so far. We present a model describing the ground state of a Bose–Einstein condensate dressed with a Rydberg level based on the Rydberg blockade. This approach provides an intuitive understanding of the transition from pure two-body interaction to a regime of collective interactions. Furthermore it enables us to calculate the deformation of a three-dimensional sample under realistic experimental conditions in mean-field approximation. We compare full three-dimensional numerical calculations of the ground state to an analytic expression obtained within Thomas–Fermi approximation. Finally we discuss limitations and problems arising in an experimental realization of Rydberg dressing based on our experimental results and point out possible solutions for future approaches. Our work enables the reader to straight forwardly estimate the experimental feasibility of Rydberg dressing in realistic three-dimensional atomic samples.
Highlights
Ultracold atoms provide an ideal system for the simulation of complex many-body systems encountered for example in condensed matter physics [1]
We present a model describing the ground state of a BoseEinstein condensate dressed with a Rydberg level based on the Rydberg blockade
We find that even far from the fully blockaded regime collective effects significantly reduce the interaction induced by Rydberg dressing
Summary
Ultracold atoms provide an ideal system for the simulation of complex many-body systems encountered for example in condensed matter physics [1]. Prime examples are the superfluid to Mott insulator transition [2], studies of the BEC-BCS crossover [3] or the Ising model [4] In such approaches the atoms have mostly been used as hard spheres in various trapping potentials. At typical densities in quantum degenerate atomic gases, the number of atoms inside a blockaded volume can become very large How this affects the dressing potential has been shown by Honer et al [27]. We find that even far from the fully blockaded regime collective effects significantly reduce the interaction induced by Rydberg dressing. This is preventing an observation in current experiments. We discuss the limits of Rydberg dressing in current experiments and point out possible solutions for future approaches
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