# Measurements of individual and ensemble lifetimes of high-lying Rb Rydberg states

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a hybrid measurement method for high-lying Rb Rydberg state lifetimes, revealing deviations around n=72 likely due to environmental effects on black-body radiation.

## Contribution

The study presents a novel hybrid technique combining field ionization and state-selective de-excitation for precise lifetime measurements of Rydberg states.

## Key findings

- Good agreement with numerical lifetime calculations
- Shorter lifetimes observed around n=72
- Environmental effects influence black-body spectrum

## Abstract

We demonstrate a hybrid method based on field ionization and state-selective de-excitation capable of measuring the lifetimes of high-lying Rydberg states. For nS Rydberg states of Rb atoms with principal quantum number $60\leq n\leq88$, we measure both the individual target state lifetimes and those of the ensemble of Rydberg states populated via black-body radiation-induced transitions. We find good overall agreement with numerical calculations of the expected lifetimes in both cases. However, for the target state lifetimes, we find a local deviation towards shorter lifetimes for states around $n=72$, which we interpret as a signature of a modified black-body spectrum in the finite volume in which our experiments take place.