Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1710.08965

Van der Waals interaction potential between Rydberg atoms near surfaces

Johannes Block·Stefan Scheel
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Van der Waals interactions, as a result of the exchange of photons between particles, can be altered by modifying the environment through which these photons propagate. As a consequence, phenomena such as the Rydberg blockade mechanism between highly excited atoms or excitons, can be controlled by adding reflecting surfaces. We provide the quantum electrodynamic framework for the van der Waals interaction in the nonretarded limit that is relevant for long-wavelength transitions such as those between Rydberg systems, and show its intimate connection with common static dipole-dipole interactions, thereby providing a generalization to include macroscopic bodies.

Explore related subjects

physics.atom-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Johannes Block, Stefan Scheel. 2017-11-23. Van der Waals interaction potential between Rydberg atoms near surfaces. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.96.062509

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

$LS/LSJ$ Hybrid Coupling Framework for Auger Angular Distributions of Experimentally Unresolved Multiplets with Isolated Fine-Structure

We present a hybrid $LS/LSJ$ coupling framework for treating state multiplets in the regime $ΔE_\text{int}\sim\hbar/τ_\text{int} \ggΔE_\text{FS}\ggΓ$, where $τ_\text{int}$ is the collision interaction time, $ΔE_\text{FS}$ the fine-structure splitting, and $Γ$ the natural width. In this regime, the collision interaction is fast compared with fine-structure evolution, whereas the individual $J$ levels are well isolated on the scale of their natural widths. The produced multiplet's alignment is therefore described in $LS$ coupling and then projected onto the individual fine-structure $J$ levels before their subsequent decay, described by $LSJ$ coupling. Applied to the multi-open-shell $1s2s2p\,^4\!P_J$ manifold, which closely satisfies these conditions, the hybrid treatment reveals strong suppression and inversion of the Auger angular-distribution anisotropy relative to the traditional pure-$LS$ treatment. It substantially improves agreement with absolute experimental data while using the same $LS$ production cross sections. This hybrid $LS/LSJ$ framework thus provides the appropriate treatment of state multiplets with isolated fine-structure levels, as it retains the $J$-dependent decay dynamics missing from the traditional pure-$LS$ treatment.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2026

A Protocol for Shielding-Enhanced Loading of Single Polar Molecules into Optical Tweezers

We propose the high-fidelity preparation of single bosonic molecules in optical tweezers starting from small tweezer-trapped molecular ensembles. Our scheme combines a static electric field and a microwave field to generate strong, tunable, anisotropic interactions that shield the molecules against two-body collisional loss. We show that this shielding eliminates all long-range bound states, preventing three-body recombination. This elimination persists for all microwave ellipticities, including the experimentally practical limit of linear polarization. Application of an additional electric field gradient can be used to induce controlled spilling of strongly interacting molecules out of the trap until one remains. With realistic experimental parameters, we estimate that single tweezer-trapped NaCs molecules can be isolated from a pair with fidelities exceeding 99\%, and $> 95\%$ per site across an array. These results establish collisional shielding with electric fields as an effective tool for preparing highly-filled tweezer arrays of polar molecules.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2026

Vector Measurements Using Integrated Radio Frequency Atomic Magnetometers

We demonstrate reconstruction of three-dimensional radio-frequency (RF) magnetic-field vectors using a pair of integrated RF atomic magnetometers operated with orthogonal bias-field orientations. A theoretical and experimental analysis identifies a phase-ambiguity dead band that limits reconstruction when the two sensor responses become nearly identical. Measurements performed in an unshielded laboratory environment demonstrate accurate reconstruction of RF magnetic-field orientations and validate the predicted dependence of reconstruction accuracy on signal imbalance. These results establish integrated RF atomic magnetometers as a compact and sensitive platform for directional RF magnetic-field sensing, particularly at low frequencies, and provide a foundation for portable source-localization and field-mapping applications.

physics.atom-ph↗