Evidence for Coherent Collective Rydberg Excitation in the Strong Blockade Regime

Rolf Heidemann, Ulrich Krohn, Vera Bendkowsky, Björn Butscher, Robert Löw, Luis Santos, and Tilman Pfau
Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 163601 – Published 16 October 2007

Abstract

We report on strong van der Waals blockade in two-photon Rydberg excitation of ultracold magnetically trapped Rb87 atoms. The excitation dynamics was investigated for a large range of densities and laser intensities and shows a full saturation and a strong suppression with respect to single-atom behavior. The observed scaling of the initial increase with density and laser intensity provides evidence for coherent collective excitation. This coherent collective behavior, that was observed for up to several thousand atoms per blockade volume, is generic for all mesoscopic systems which are able to carry only one single quantum of excitation.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 19 June 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.163601

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Rolf Heidemann1,*, Ulrich Krohn1, Vera Bendkowsky1, Björn Butscher1, Robert Löw1, Luis Santos2, and Tilman Pfau1,†

  • 15. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
  • 2Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 2, 30167 Hannover, Germany

  • *r.heidemann@physik.uni-stuttgart.de
  • t.pfau@physik.uni-stuttgart.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 99, Iss. 16 — 19 October 2007

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×