ISBN 9783843914048

978-3-8439-1404-8, Reihe Physik

Thomas Baluktsian
Rydberg interaction between thermal atoms: Van der Waals-type Rydberg-Rydberg interaction in a vapor cell experiment

152 Seiten, Dissertation Universität Stuttgart (2013), Softcover, A5

Zusammenfassung / Abstract

The subject of this thesis is the experimental investigation of interaction effects between thermal rubidium atoms, with a focus on the interaction between atoms excited to Rydberg states. In this context "thermal" indicates that the atoms are prepared as an atomic vapor with a temperature around or above room temperature. Rydberg-Rydberg interaction between thermal atoms was observed and could be identified to be of van der Waals-type. The interaction strengths observed exceed the Doppler width present in a thermal ensemble of atoms. This implies that the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction can be large enough to support blockade effects and coherent collective behavior also in a thermal ensemble of atoms.