High-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy Rydberg levels

TL;DR

This paper presents the first high-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy Rydberg states, measuring over 700 states with high precision, refining energy levels, and exploring their potential for quantum applications.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed high-resolution spectroscopic data of 162Dy Rydberg states, with improved accuracy and theoretical benchmarking, advancing the understanding of complex open-shell atomic systems.

Findings

Measured over 700 Rydberg states with 20 MHz accuracy

Refined the ionization potential of 162Dy to 47901.8265 cm-1

Benchmarking with quantum defect theory for state assignments

Abstract

Highly excited Rydberg states of lanthanides are a promising, yet largely unexplored, playground for quantum studies. Here, we report on the first high-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy obtained by two-color trap depletion spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap. The absolute excitation frequency of over 700 states with effective principal quantum number n between 21 and 130 is measured with an accuracy of 20 MHz. Most states are assigned to the 8 different series converging to the first 4f10(5I8)6s(2S1/2) J = 17/2 ionization potential. This energy is measured at EIP = 47901.8265 +/- 0.0008 cm-1, improving the precision of the literature value by over an order of magnitude. A multichannel quantum defect theory approach is used to benchmark and refine the assignments and to characterize six observed perturbing states belonging to higher ionization limits. These results pave the way for using dysprosium in Rydberg-based quantum architectures, leveraging the unique properties arising from its complex electronic structure. They also represent a compelling benchmark for ab-initio calculations of open-shell atomic systems.