Magic distances in the blockade mechanism of Rydberg p and d states

TL;DR

This paper explores how the Rydberg blockade mechanism varies for p and d states due to Zeeman couplings and magnetic fields, revealing the existence of magic distances for superpositions of excited states.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significant differences in the blockade mechanism for p and d states and introduces the concept of magic distances in these scenarios.

Findings

Identification of magic distances for superpositions of doubly excited states

Differences in blockade behavior for p and d Rydberg states due to Zeeman couplings

Impact of magnetic fields on Rydberg excitation dynamics

Abstract

We show that the Rydberg blockade mechanism, which is well known in the case of s states, can be significantly different for p and d states due to the van der Waals couplings between different Rydberg Zeeman sublevels and the presence of a magnetic-field. We show, in particular, the existence of magic distances corresponding to the laser-excitation of a superposition of doubly excited states.