Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade

We consider the quench of an atomic impurity via a single Rydberg excitation in a degenerate Fermi gas. The Rydberg interaction with the background gas particles induces an ultralong-range potential that binds particles to form dimers, trimers, tetramers, etc. Such oligomeric molecules were recently...

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Main Authors: John Sous, H. R. Sadeghpour, T. C. Killian, Eugene Demler, Richard Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-04-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023021
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author John Sous
H. R. Sadeghpour
T. C. Killian
Eugene Demler
Richard Schmidt
author_facet John Sous
H. R. Sadeghpour
T. C. Killian
Eugene Demler
Richard Schmidt
author_sort John Sous
collection DOAJ
description We consider the quench of an atomic impurity via a single Rydberg excitation in a degenerate Fermi gas. The Rydberg interaction with the background gas particles induces an ultralong-range potential that binds particles to form dimers, trimers, tetramers, etc. Such oligomeric molecules were recently observed in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Understanding the effects of a correlated background on molecule formation, absent in bosonic baths, is crucial to explain ongoing experiments with Fermi gases. In this work we demonstrate with a functional determinant approach that quantum statistics and fluctuations have clear observable consequences. We show that the occupation of molecular states is predicated on the Fermi statistics, which suppresses molecular formation in an emergent molecular shell structure. At high gas densities this leads to spectral narrowing, which can serve as a probe of the quantum gas thermodynamic properties. Rydberg excitations in Fermi gases go beyond traditional impurity problems, creating an opportunity for studies of mesoscopic interactions in synthetic quantum matter.
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spelling doaj.art-8650dfb8422841daaac46bcccb78aeff2024-04-12T16:52:30ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-04-012202302110.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023021Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockadeJohn SousH. R. SadeghpourT. C. KillianEugene DemlerRichard SchmidtWe consider the quench of an atomic impurity via a single Rydberg excitation in a degenerate Fermi gas. The Rydberg interaction with the background gas particles induces an ultralong-range potential that binds particles to form dimers, trimers, tetramers, etc. Such oligomeric molecules were recently observed in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Understanding the effects of a correlated background on molecule formation, absent in bosonic baths, is crucial to explain ongoing experiments with Fermi gases. In this work we demonstrate with a functional determinant approach that quantum statistics and fluctuations have clear observable consequences. We show that the occupation of molecular states is predicated on the Fermi statistics, which suppresses molecular formation in an emergent molecular shell structure. At high gas densities this leads to spectral narrowing, which can serve as a probe of the quantum gas thermodynamic properties. Rydberg excitations in Fermi gases go beyond traditional impurity problems, creating an opportunity for studies of mesoscopic interactions in synthetic quantum matter.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023021
spellingShingle John Sous
H. R. Sadeghpour
T. C. Killian
Eugene Demler
Richard Schmidt
Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
Physical Review Research
title Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
title_full Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
title_fullStr Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
title_full_unstemmed Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
title_short Rydberg impurity in a Fermi gas: Quantum statistics and rotational blockade
title_sort rydberg impurity in a fermi gas quantum statistics and rotational blockade
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023021
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