Work

Microscopic Rydberg Electron Orbit Manipulation with Optical Tweezers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Laser cooling and trapping of atomic matter waves in optical potentials has enabled rapid progress in quantum science, particularly when combined with Rydberg excitation of the atoms to induce long-range interactions. Here, we propose the local manipulation and spatiotemporal sculpting of the electronic matter wave of a Rydberg atom by a laser field focused so that its beam width is smaller than the Rydberg electron orbit. We compute the electronic eigenstates in the presence of a sharply focused Gaussian laser beam, and find strong Rydberg state mixing leading to large kilo-Debye dipole moments. These can be modulated with high bandwidth controlled by the local tweezer intensity. Oscillations in the position-dependent level shifts, analogous to the potential wells allowing ultralong-range Rydberg molecules to form, provide opportunities for eccentric radial trapping of the Rydberg electron via ponderomotive forces acting on suborbital length scales.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/3tq7-ywf6

Authors: Homar Rivera-Rodríguez, Matthew T. Eiles, Tilman Pfau, Florian Meinert

Institutions: Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Purdue University West Lafayette, University of Stuttgart, Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology

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: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, European Research Council