U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Collective and Co- operative Effects in a Frozen Rydberg Gas

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This three-year award will support the continuation of a U.S.-France cooperative research project in atomic, molecular and optical physics between Thomas Gallagher of the University of Virginia and Pierre Pillet of the Aime Cotton Laboratory in Orsay, France. The objective of their research is to investigate laser cooling and its application to collisional studies of relatively dense samples of cold Rydberg atoms. They will study far infrared superadiant masers and multibody collisional energy transfer. The proposed experiments will be done with alkali atoms in laser cooled beams and in magneto-optical traps. The U.S. investigator brings to this collaboration his expertise on collisions of Rydberg atoms. This is complemented by the French investigator's expertise in laser cooling techniques and superadiance. The project will advance our understanding of the effects of Rydberg atoms in light scattering and collective light emission processes. This may eventually impact on the fabrication of diode lasers.