Mainz 2017 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 36: Rydberg gasses II

A 36.3: Vortrag

Freitag, 10. März 2017, 15:00–15:15, HS 20

Charge-induced optical bistability in thermal Rydberg vapor — •Daniel Weller, Alban Urvoy, Andy Rico, Robert Löw, and Harald Kübler — 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart

In this talk, we discuss the phenomenon of optical bistability in a driven ensemble of Rydberg atoms. By performing two experiments with thermal vapors of rubidium and cesium, we are able to shed light onto the underlying interaction mechanisms causing such a non-linear behavior [1]. Due to the different properties of these two atomic species, we conclude that the large polarizability of Rydberg states in combination with electric fields of spontaneously ionized Rydberg atoms is the relevant interaction mechanism. In the case of rubidium, we directly measure the electric field in a bistable situation via two-species spectroscopy. In cesium, we make use of the different sign of the polarizability for different l-states and the possibility of applying electric fields. In contrast to previous interpretations [2,3], both these experiments allow us to rule out dipole-dipole interactions in our realization, and support our hypothesis of a charge-induced bistability.

[1] Phys. Rev. A 94, 063820

[2] Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 113901

[3] Phys. Rev. A 93, 063863