Ultraprecise Rydberg atomic localization using optical vortices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method for ultrahigh-precision two- and three-dimensional localization of Rydberg atoms using optical vortices and standing-wave modulations, achieving nanometer-scale confinement.

Contribution

It presents a new localization technique leveraging optical vortex beams and Rydberg interactions for subwavelength atomic confinement, surpassing previous standing-wave methods.

Findings

Achieves nanometer-scale two-dimensional localization at the vortex center.

Demonstrates enhanced confinement through Rydberg-Rydberg interactions and detuning.

Proposes a feasible approach for future experimental implementation.

Abstract

We propose a robust localization of the highly-excited Rydberg atoms, interacting with doughnut-shaped optical vortices. Compared with the earlier standing-wave (SW)-based localization methods, a vortex beam can provide an ultrahigh-precision two-dimensional localization solely in the zero-intensity center, within a confined excitation region down to the nanometer scale. We show that the presence of the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction permits counter-intuitively much stronger confinement towards a high spatial resolution when it is partially compensated by a suitable detuning. In addition, applying an auxiliary SW modulation to the two-photon detuning allows a three-dimensional confinement of Rydberg atoms. In this case, the vortex field provides a transverse confinement while the SW modulation of the two-photon detuning localizes the Rydberg atoms longitudinally. To develop a new subwavelength localization technique, our results pave one-step closer to reduce excitation volumes to the level of a few nanometers, representing a feasible implementation for the future experimental applications.