U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Cold Rydberg Atoms: At the Crossing of Atomic, Molecular, Solid State, and Plasma Physics

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0129020GallagherThis three-year award for U.S.-France collaboration in atomic, molecular and optical physics involves Thomas Gallager, Pierre Pillet and graduate students at the University of Virginia and the Laboratoire Aime Cotton in Orsay, France respectively. The goal is to use cold Rydberg gases as a controllable test system for several different kinds of experiments. Cold Rydberg atoms mimic an amorphous solid, the properties of which can be manipulated using small tuning electric fields or by changing the Rydberg state. This cooperative research program will explore collectively this phenomena in cold Rydberg atom samples, the Rydberg to plasma evolution, and dipole-dipole interactions in frozen Rydberg gases. The main questions addressed are: How does ultracold plasma containing cold atoms in a well-defined Rydberg state come to equilibrium? What key role do dipole-dipole interactions play in quantum logic gates? The French group brings to this collaboration expertise in high-resolution laser spectroscopy and cold atom manipulation. This is complemented by US expertise in manipulation of Rydberg atoms. This award represents the US side of joint proposals to the NSF and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). NSF will cover travel funds and living expenses for the US investigator and graduate students. CNRS will support the visits of the French researchers and graduate students to the United States. The collaboration will advance fundamental understanding of the atomic-solid state connection in cold Rydberg gases and this phenomena's applications in plasma and condensed matter physics.