Cold Rydberg Atoms

该项目的研究部分主要集中在冷里德伯原子气体和冷等离子体的动力学实验上，同时使用里德伯原子俘获和冷里德伯原子束。这个实验系统的独特之处在于，它提供了密集的、激光冷却的原子云，以及低至4开尔文的可变辐射场温度。该研究的一个组成部分是研究冷里德伯原子气体和等离子体动力学中的l-混合、n-混合、电离和复合与原子密度、里德伯原子激发能和辐射场温度等重要参数的函数关系。里德伯原子的捕获是该项目的第二个组成部分。计划演示静电和磁四极里德伯原子陷阱，并在光学晶格中捕获里德伯原子，这些晶格是由弱束缚里德伯电子的质变能位移产生的。后者是一种全新的捕获方法。该项目涉及研究生和本科生的研究，以及口头和书面的研究报告。更广泛的扩展部分包括参与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和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.