Rydberg tagging time-of-flight imaging to study ultracold collisions

POSTER

Abstract

We have further developed Rydberg tagging time-of-flight and imaging techniques so that they can effectively be used to study ultracold collisions. We have realized a velocity resolution of $\sim2.5$ cm/s with our apparatus. This resolution enables Rydberg tagging time-of-flight and imaging spectroscopy to determine the exit channel of an ultracold collision. Results and prospects for applying these methods to measure differential cross-sections for Rydberg atom collisions, photoassociative collisions, and three-body recombination will be presented.

*We acknowledge funding from the Research Corporation, the OSRHE and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-05-0328).

Authors

  • Jonathan Tallant

  • K. Richard Overstreet

  • Arne Schwettmann

  • James P. Shaffer

    • University of Oklahoma
    • The University of Oklahoma