# Observation of the motional Stark shift in low magnetic fields

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates the motional Stark effect in Rydberg atoms within a vapor cell under weak magnetic fields, revealing velocity- and state-dependent shifts with experimental and theoretical agreement.

## Contribution

First observation of the motional Stark shift in Rydberg atoms at low magnetic fields using electromagnetically induced transparency spectroscopy.

## Key findings

- Measured a ~10 MHz Stark shift for n=100 Rydberg states at 100 G
- Observed velocity- and quantum state-dependent transition frequency shifts
- Experimental results agree with numerical Hamiltonian diagonalization

## Abstract

We report on the observation of the motional Stark effect of highly excited $^{87}$Rb Rydberg atoms moving in the presence of a weak homogeneous magnetic field in a vapor cell. Employing electromagnetically induced transparency for spectroscopy of an atomic vapor, we observe the velocity-, quantum state- and magnetic field-dependent transition frequencies between the ground and Rydberg excited states. For atoms moving at velocities around $400\,\mathrm{m/s}$, the principal quantum number $n=100$ of the valence electron, and a magnetic field of $B=100\,\mathrm{G}$, we measure a motional Stark shift of $\sim10\,\mathrm{MHz}$. Our experimental results are supported by numerical calculations based on a diagonalization of the effective Hamiltonian governing the valence electron of $^{87}$Rb in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields.