Recent advances in Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical and experimental progress in ultralong-range Rydberg molecules, highlighting their unique properties, formation mechanisms, and potential applications in quantum science.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the understanding and observation of diatomic Rydberg molecules, including new insights into their binding mechanisms and spectroscopic features.

Findings

Identification of three categories of Rydberg molecules

Recent experimental observations of Rydberg molecule spectra

Theoretical models explaining binding and properties

Abstract

Rydberg molecule, formed by one or more Rydberg atoms, exhibits remarkable properties, including an exceptionally large spatial extent, rich rovibrational level structures, permanent electric dipole moments, and a pronounced sensitivity to external fields. Based on the underlying binding mechanisms, Rydberg molecules can be divided into three categories, the ground-Rydberg molecule that is bound via a low-energy electron-atom scattering interaction between ground atom and Rydberg electron, the Rydberg-Rydberg molecule that is bound via a long-range electrostatic interaction between Rydberg atoms, and the ion-Rydberg molecule that is bound via single- or multi-polar interactions between Rydberg atom and ion. This review focuses on recent theoretical and experimental advances in diatomic Rydberg molecules, covering their formation and binding mechanisms, potential energy curves, experimental observations, and spectroscopic properties, with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of this rapidly developing field.