Abstract
Triplet (S = 1) He Rydberg atoms in supersonic beams with an initial velocity of 350 m s−1 have been decelerated to zero velocity and loaded into an off-axis electric trap in the presence and absence of magnetic fields. Comparing the deceleration efficiencies and the radiative decay of the population of trapped He Rydberg atoms to the (1s)1(2s)1 3S1 metastable level in the two sets of deceleration and trapping experiments revealed that the effects of magnetic fields up to 30 mT are negligible provided that a background dc electric field is maintained in the decelerator. A magnetic quadrupole trap of 30 mT depth corresponds to a He temperature of about 40 mK. The results thus represent an important step towards achieving high densities of cold paramagnetic samples following successive cycles of Rydberg–Stark deceleration, trapping, and radiative decay in overlaid electric and magnetic traps.
Highlights
Following the proposals of Breeden and Metcalf [1], and Wing [2], who suggested the exploitation of the large electric-dipole moments of Rydberg states to manipulate the motion of neutral atoms and molecules, Softley and co-workers developed the first devices which used these principles
Comparing the deceleration efficiencies and the radiative decay of the population of trapped He Rydberg atoms to the (1s)1(2s)1 3S1 metastable level in the two sets of deceleration and trapping experiments revealed that the effects of magnetic fields up to 30 mT are negligible provided that a background dc electric field is maintained in the decelerator
The radiative lifetimes of the Rydberg–Stark states of He, on which the discussion of the measurements is based, were calculated with the procedure presented in detail in reference [24], which was adapted to the triplet He case
Summary
Following the proposals of Breeden and Metcalf [1], and Wing [2], who suggested the exploitation of the large electric-dipole moments of Rydberg states to manipulate the motion of neutral atoms and molecules, Softley and co-workers developed the first devices which used these principles. With them, they deflected beams of Kr Rydberg atoms [3] and decelerated beams of H2 Rydberg molecules [4, 5]. The dynamics of the processes causing loss of particles from the traps were studied in detail in the case of H Rydberg atoms [24] and H2 Rydberg molecules [25]
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