Microwave-optical two-photon excitation of Rydberg states

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates an efficient microwave-optical two-photon excitation method for Rb Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap, enabling access to high angular momentum states with low power requirements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining microwave and optical fields to excite Rydberg states, overcoming Doppler broadening and utilizing large dipole matrix elements.

Findings

High excitation efficiency achieved with low power levels.

Access to normally inaccessible high angular momentum Rydberg states.

Elimination of Doppler broadening enhances excitation precision.

Abstract

We report efficient microwave-optical two photon excitation of Rb Rydberg atoms in a magneto optical trap. This approach allows the excitation of normally inaccessible states and provides a path toward excitation of high angular momentum states. The efficiency stems from the elimination of the Doppler width, the use of a narrow band pulsed laser, and the enormous electric dipole matrix element connecting the intermediate and final states of the transition. The excitation is efficient in spite of the low optical and microwave powers, of order 1 kW and 1 mW, respectively. This is an application of the large dipole coupling strengths between Rydberg states to achieve two photon excitation of Rydberg atoms.