Studies Involving Atoms in High Rydberg States

这项关于高激发原子的研究项目使用一系列半周期脉冲来设计高n里德堡原子的目标终态，最初在准1D和近圆形状态下创建非常高n的原子。量子拍子及其衰减的测量将被用来检查准弹性电子散射引起的碰撞消相干。我们还将研究在与极性目标的碰撞中通过旋转能量转移进行的电离，重点是与偶极支持的实态和虚态相关的共振的影响。此外，里德堡原子-表面相互作用在严格控制的条件下将被用来探索原子在接近表面时如何演化。更广泛的影响涉及到对学生的教育以及对量子计算和表面表征的应用。

This research project on highly-excited atoms uses a sequence of half cycle pulses to engineer targeted final states in high-n Rydberg atoms, initially creating very-high-n atoms in quasi-1D and near-circular states. Measurements of quantum beats and their damping will be used to examine collisional decoherence due to quasi-elastic electron scattering. Ionization through rotational energy transfer in collisions with polar targets will also be studied with emphasis on the effect of resonances associated with dipole-supported real and virtual states. In addition, Rydberg atom.surface interactions under carefully controlled conditions will be used to explore how atoms evolve as they approach a surface. The broader impacts involve the education of students and the application to quantum computing and surface characterization.