Superradiance in ultracold Rydberg atoms

ORAL

Abstract

Experiments in dense, ultracold Rydberg atoms show a considerable decrease of excited state lifetimes compared to dilute gases. We show, using a novel formalism, that this behaviour can be modeled and explained as superradiance-type decay. In addition, we find that the tendency to decay into the highest-possible frequency channel is reversed as the density increases, and thus long-wavelength decay into the closest lying level is the most probable.

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Authors

  • Tun Wang

  • Robin Cote

    • University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
    • Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3046
    • University of Connecticut, Physics Department, U-3046 Hillside Road, Storrs CT, 02269-3046
    • University of Connecticut
    • Dept. of Physics, UCONN, Storrs, CT
    • University of Connecticut, Department of Physics, Storrs, CT 06269.
    • University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT 06269)

  • Edward Eyler

    • Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT

  • S. Farooqi

  • P. L. Gould

    • University of Connecticut, Physics Department, Storrs, CT 06269

  • Marijan Kostrun

  • David Tong

    • University of Connecticut

  • Daniel Vrinceanu

    • Los Alamos National Laboratories

  • Susanne Yelin

    • University of Connecticut