Spatially resolved observation of dipole-dipole interaction between Rydberg atoms

TL;DR

This study demonstrates spatially resolved resonant energy transfer between cold Rydberg atoms via dipole-dipole interactions, with experimental measurements aligned with quantum calculations, advancing understanding of atomic interactions at microscopic scales.

Contribution

It provides the first spatially resolved observation of dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms in separated cylinders, supported by quantum modeling.

Findings

Resonant energy transfer observed between Rydberg atoms at separations up to 80 μm.

Measured the dependence of transfer efficiency on separation and interaction time.

Quantum calculations successfully reproduce experimental results.

Abstract

We have observed resonant energy transfer between cold Rydberg atoms in spatially separated cylinders. Resonant dipole-dipole coupling excites the 49s atoms in one cylinder to the 49p state while the 41d atoms in the second cylinder are transferred down to the 42p state. We have measured the production of the 49p state as a function of separation of the cylinders (0 - 80 um) and the interaction time (0 - 25 us). In addition we measured the width of the electric field resonances. A full many-body quantum calculation reproduces the main features of the experiments.