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Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

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Published on: August 17, 2017

Nonequilibrium phase transition in a dilute Rydberg ensemble.

C Carr¹, R Ritter, C G Wade

¹Department of Physics, Joint Quantum Centre (JQC) Durham-Newcastle, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom.

Physical Review Letters

|October 1, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

We observed a nonequilibrium phase transition in a dilute atomic gas, driven by Rydberg atom interactions. This transition shows optical bistability and critical slowing down, indicating a new phase of matter.

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Area of Science:

Atomic physics
Quantum optics
Condensed matter physics

Background:

Nonequilibrium phase transitions are crucial for understanding complex systems.
Rydberg atoms offer a unique platform for studying many-body quantum phenomena due to strong interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate and characterize a nonequilibrium phase transition in a dilute atomic gas.
To investigate the role of resonant dipole-dipole interactions in inducing this transition.
To explore the phenomena of optical bistability and critical slowing down in this system.

Main Methods:

Utilizing a dilute thermal atomic gas excited to Rydberg states.
Inducing phase transitions via resonant dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms.
Observing frequency domain (optical bistability) and time domain (critical slowing down) dynamics.

Main Results:

Demonstrated a phase transition between low and high Rydberg occupancy states.
Observed a mean-field shift leading to optical bistability above a critical density.
Measured critical slowing down with a critical exponent α=-0.53±0.10.
Evidence of a superradiant cascade in the high Rydberg occupancy phase.

Conclusions:

Nonequilibrium phase transitions can be realized and controlled in dilute atomic gases.
Rydberg atom interactions provide a powerful mechanism for driving and studying such transitions.
The observed phenomena, including optical bistability and critical slowing down, are characteristic of a distinct phase of matter.