Rydberg atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental realization of Rydberg excitations in one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates and optical lattices, demonstrating coherent excitations and blockade effects without destroying phase coherence.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental observation of Rydberg excitations in 1D condensates and optical lattices, confirming theoretical models of localized excitations and blockade phenomena.

Findings

Rydberg excitations in 1D condensates match chain models

Optical lattice excitations preserve phase coherence

Evidence of nearest-neighbour blockade effects

Abstract

We experimentally realize Rydberg excitations in Bose-Einstein condensates of rubidium atoms loaded into quasi one-dimensional traps and in optical lattices. Our results for condensates expanded to different sizes in the one-dimensional trap agree well with the intuitive picture of a chain of Rydberg excitations. We also find that the Rydberg excitations in the optical lattice do not destroy the phase coherence of the condensate, and our results in that system agree with the picture of localized collective Rydberg excitations including nearest-neighbour blockade.