Probe of Rydberg-Atom Transitions via an Amplitude-Modulated Optical Standing Wave with a Ponderomotive Interaction

K. R. Moore and G. Raithel

Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 163003 – Published 16 October 2015

Abstract

In ponderomotive spectroscopy an amplitude-modulated optical standing wave is employed to probe Rydberg-atom transitions, utilizing a ponderomotive rather than a dipole-field interaction. Here, we engage nonlinearities in the modulation to drive dipole-forbidden transitions up to the fifth order. We reach transition frequencies approaching the sub-THz regime. We also demonstrate magic-wavelength conditions, which result in symmetric spectral lines with a Fourier-limited peak at the line center. Applicability to precision measurement is discussed.

Received 5 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.163003

Authors & Affiliations

K. R. Moore^* and G. Raithel

Applied Physics Program and Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA

^*kaimoore@umich.edu

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Vol. 115, Iss. 16 — 16 October 2015

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Images

Figure 1
Experimental setup. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer splits and recombines a 1064-nm cw beam. One portion is amplitude modulated by a fiber-based electro-optic modulator (EOM), driven at frequency $Ω_{1}$ (inset). Locking is achieved via photodetectors (PD) and a piezoelectric transducer (PZ), described in Ref. [4]. Optional lattice inversion is achieved via a phase shifter (PS) and $λ / 4$ plate, described in Ref. [7]. The optical lattice is formed by retro reflecting and focusing the beam onto a ${}^{85}{Rb}$ magneto-optical trap (MOT). The lattice modulation period in $q$ th order is $T = 2 π / (q Ω_{1})$ .
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Figure 2
Scaled Rabi frequencies of the $q$ th harmonics of the lattice modulation at lattice intensity minima, as a function of $V_{μ}$ (units of $V_{π}$ ) [8].
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Figure 3
Third harmonic drive. (a) Population in $53 S_{1 / 2}$ as a function of lattice modulation frequency $Ω_{1}$ . Data are a smoothed average of ten scans with 200 measurements per frequency step. Error bars, standard error of the mean (SEM). Red curve, triple-Gaussian fit. Vertical black line, line center. Black dashed line, center location of a two-photon microwave spectroscopy measurement (the black curve). (Inset) Simulation results. (b) Peak $53 S_{1 / 2}$ population as a function of modulation strength $V_{μ}$ . For each data point, six to ten scans taken. Vertical (horizontal) error bars, peak height ( $V_{π}$ ) uncertainty. Red curve, proportional to the square of the $q = 3$ curve in Fig. 2.
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Figure 4
Fifth harmonic drive. (a),(b) Population in $56 S_{1 / 2}$ as a function of lattice modulation frequency $Ω_{1}$ for Rydberg atoms prepared at lattice potential (a) minima, (b) maxima. Data are a smoothed average of (a) 18, (b) 10 scans, 200 measurements each. Error bars, SEM. Red curve, double-Gaussian fit. Vertical black line, line center. (Insets) Simulation results.
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Figure 5
Magic condition, fundamental. Population in $70 S_{1 / 2}$ as a function of lattice modulation frequency $Ω_{1}$ . Data are a smoothed average of 18 scans, 200 measurements each. Error bars, SEM. Red curve, single-Gaussian fit. Vertical black line, line center. Black dashed line, center location of a two-photon microwave spectroscopy measurement (the black curve).
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Figure 6
Magic condition, third harmonic. Population in $71 S_{1 / 2}$ as a function of lattice modulation frequency $Ω_{1}$ . Data are a smoothed average of (a) 12, (b) 5 scans, 200 measurements each. Error bars, SEM. Red curve, single-Gaussian fit. Vertical black line, line center. (a) Lattice not inverted. Black dashed line, center location of a two-photon microwave spectroscopy measurement (black curve). (b) Lattice inverted.
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