Decay, interference, and chaos: How simple atoms mimic disorder

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a quantitative analogy between Rydberg atom excitation/ionization under microwave driving and charge transport in disordered 1D lattices, revealing new insights into Anderson localization in atomic systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analogy linking atomic excitation processes with disordered lattice charge transport, expanding the scope of Anderson localization studies.

Findings

Establishes a quantitative analogy between atomic and lattice systems.

Reveals potential for Anderson localization in deterministic atomic systems.

Opens new research avenues for disorder effects in atomic physics.

Abstract

We establish a close quantitative analogy between the excitation and ionization process of highly excited one electron Rydberg states under microwave driving and charge transport across disordered 1D lattices. Our results open a new arena for Anderson localization - a disorder induced effect - in a large class of perfectly deterministic, decaying atomic systems.