2007/10/30 by Rolf Heidemann, R. Heidemann, Ulrich Raitzsch +5 · 5 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic physics #Bose–Einstein condensate #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Condensed matter physics #Excitation #Ion #Ionization #Molecule #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Rydberg atom #Rydberg constant #Rydberg formula #Rydberg matter #Spectroscopy and Laser Applications #quant-ph #van der Waals force
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.033601
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 033601 (2008) · 4 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2007/10/30 · openalex publication_date 2008/01/22 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Rydberg atoms provide a wide range of possibilities to tailor interactions in a quantum gas. Here, we report on Rydberg excitation of Bose-Einstein condensed 87Rb atoms. The Rydberg fraction was investigated for various excitation times and temperatures above and below the condensation temperature. The excitation is locally blocked by the van der Waals interaction between Rydberg atoms to a density-dependent limit. Therefore, the abrupt change of the thermal atomic density distribution to the characteristic bimodal distribution upon condensation could be observed in the Rydberg fraction. The observed features are reproduced by a simulation based on local collective Rydberg excitations.