Cold Rydberg Atoms

这个项目的研究部分集中在使用里德堡原子陷阱和冷里德堡原子束来研究冷里德堡原子气体和冷等离子体的动力学的实验。该实验系统的独特之处在于，它提供了致密的、激光冷却的原子云，以及低至4开尔文的可变温度辐射场。研究内容之一是研究冷里德堡原子气体和等离子体动力学中的L混合、n混合、电离和复合随原子密度、里德堡原子激发能和辐射场温度等重要参数的变化。捕获里德堡原子是该项目的第二个组成部分。它计划演示静态的电和磁四极里德堡原子陷阱，并将里德堡原子捕获到光学晶格中，这些晶格是由弱束缚里德堡电子的有质运动能移衍生出来的。后者是一种全新的诱捕方法。该项目包括研究生和本科生的研究，以及研究的口头和书面陈述。一个更广泛的外展部分包括参与NASA暑期高中学徒研究计划(SHARP)、密歇根大学物理奥林匹克竞赛以及密歇根数学和科学学者(MMSS)计划。

The research component of this project focuses on experiments to study the dynamics of cold Rydberg atom gases and cold plasmas, using both Rydberg atom trapping and beams of cold Rydberg atoms. The experimental system is unique in that it provides dense, laser-cooled atom clouds as well as a variable temperature of the radiation field down to 4 Kelvin. One component of the research is the study of l-mixing, n-mixing, ionization and recombination in the dynamics of cold Rydberg atom gases and plasmas as a function of important parameters such as the atom density, the Rydberg-atom excitation energy, and the temperature of the radiation field. Trapping of Rydberg atoms is the second component of the project. It is planned to demonstrate static electric and magnetic quadrupole Rydberg atom traps, and to trap Rydberg atoms in optical lattices that are derived from the ponderomotive energy shift of the weakly bound Rydberg electrons. The latter is a fundamentally new trapping method. The project involves both graduate and undergraduate students in research, and in the oral and written presentation of research. A broader outreach component includes an involvement in the NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP), the University of Michigan Physics Olympiad, and the Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) program.