https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2015-50339-8
Review
Interaction Enhanced Imaging of Rydberg P states
Preparation and detection of Rydberg atoms for engineering long-range interactions
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 226, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
a e-mail: gavryusev@physi.uni-heidelberg.de
Received: 1 January 2016
Revised: 29 July 2016
Published online: 19 December 2016
The Interaction Enhanced Imaging technique allows to detect the spatial distribution of strongly interacting impurities embedded within a gas of background atoms used as a contrast medium [1]. Here we present a detailed study of this technique, applied to detect Rydberg P states. We experimentally realize fast and efficient three-photon excitation of P states, optimized according to the results of a theoretical effective two-level model. Few Rydberg P-state atoms, prepared in a small cloud with dimensions comparable to the blockade radius, are detected with a good sensitivity by averaging over 50 shots. The main aspects of the technique are described with a hard-sphere model, finding good agreement with experimental data. This work paves the way to a non-destructive optical detection of single Rydberg atoms with high spatial and temporal resolution.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2016
