Millimeter-wave dynamics and control of Rydberg-Rydberg transitions

Abstract

In this thesis, I report on the design and construction of a new atomic and molecular beam source that exploits the unique capabilities of a buffer gas cooled ablation source. Buffer gas cooled atomic and molecular beams generate samples with > 1000 x more particles and 10x slower translational velocities than typical ablation seeded supersonic expansions. This increase in number density provides an ideal system for the observation of qualitatively new cooperative emission effects. I describe the detection of single-shot free space superradiance in a buffer gas cooled beam of barium atoms. The frequency of this emission is shifted and broadened by a factor of ~ 10⁶ x greater than the natural lifetime, indicating the presence of quantum many-body dipole-dipole effects in the cooperative emission. Additionally, the smaller lab-frame velocity reduces the Doppler broadening enough to allow for coherent manipulation of Rydberg states and a coherent coupling of an optical and millimeter-wave photon. I demonstrate this coherent coupling in an ensemble of barium atoms, and provide a theoretical description of how to provably perform complete STImulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP).