Microwave probe for the study of ultra-cold circular Rydberg atoms

用于研究超冷圆形里德伯原子的微波探针

• 批准号: 374753-2009
• 负责人: Martin, James
• 金额: $ 6.21万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=435741
• 关键词: Microwave; probe; study; ultra; cold

Rydberg atoms are highly excited states of atoms where a single electron is located far away from the remaining ion core. They show exaggerated properties; they are large, very sensitive to electric fields, and interact strongly with one-another. This makes them appealing as sensitive detectors and tools for understanding basic quantum mechanics. Unfortunately, Rydberg atoms normally decay very rapidly -- within a thousandth of a second - limiting their usefulness. There is, however, a special type of Rydberg atom, known as a "circular" Rydberg atom, which shows very long decay times; it can be made to last for almost a second. In the experiments with the requested equipment we will produce long-lived circular Rydberg atoms and study a technique for making them less sensitive to electric fields, while retaining their other exaggerated properties.

里德伯原子是高度激发态的原子，其中一个电子位于远离剩余离子核的地方。他们表现出夸张的特性；它们很大，对电场非常敏感，彼此之间相互作用强烈。这使得它们作为敏感探测器和理解基本量子力学的工具很有吸引力。不幸的是，里德伯原子通常衰变非常快——在千分之一秒内——限制了它们的用途。然而，有一种特殊类型的里德伯原子，被称为“圆形”里德伯原子，它的衰变时间非常长；它可以持续近一秒钟。在使用所要求的设备进行的实验中，我们将生产出长寿命的圆形里德伯原子，并研究一种技术，使它们对电场不那么敏感，同时保留它们其他夸张的特性。