Work

Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: We review ultralong-range Rydberg molecules (ULRMs), which are bound states between a Rydberg atom and one or more ground-state atoms with bond lengths on the order of thousands of Bohr radii. The binding originates from multiple electron-atom scattering and leads to exotic oscillatory potential energy surfaces that reflect the probability density of the Rydberg electron. This unconventional binding mechanism opens fascinating possibilities to tune molecular properties via weak external fields, to study spin-resolved low-energy electron-atom scattering as well as to control and to probe interatomic forces in few- and many-body systems. Here, we provide an overview on recent theoretical and experimental progress in the field with an emphasis on polyatomic ULRMs, field control and spin interactions.

Source: Molecular Physics

DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2019.1679401

Authors: Christian Fey, Frederic Hummel, Peter Schmelcher

Institutions: Universität Hamburg, Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award: G6874455046