Charged and neutral long-range Rydberg molecules: Internal structure and wave packet dynamics

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During the first funding period, the research plan had to be adapted because the experiments did not work as anticipated. However, studying the reasons for the difficulties already proved to be fruitful. In the upcoming funding period, two classes of molecules involving Rydberg atoms are to be investigated. The first are molecules consisting of a Rydberg atom and a ground-state atom. These are quite well-studied by now but the applicant has the capability to study them in a regime that has not been explored yet and there are still very interesting question to be answered. The second class are newly predicted molecules formed due to the attraction of a Rydberg atom to a positively charged ion. The project’s results can have an impact in the domain of ultracold molecules, clusters and chemistry, as it promises to demonstrate a novel binding mechanism and to study the relevant processes.The applicant is a very well known experimentalist who can clearly lead the planned effort. The work plan is convincing.