Speaker
Prof.
Dieter Jaksch
(University of Oxford, UK)
Description
Abstract: In the first part of my talk I will discuss the
physics of two and three ultracold Rydberg atoms
interacting via the dipole-dipole interaction. These systems
can form micrometer sized dimer molecules whose relative
dynamics is governed by artificial gauge fields. In particular I
will show that these fields exhibit magnetic monopoles and
give rise to synthetic spin-orbit coupling. Furthermore, I will
discuss three atom bound states that do not have a two
atom equivalent. The binding mechanism leading to these
states is substantially different from Efimov physics. I will
also show how these molecular states can be engineered in
the laboratory and how the exaggerated properties of
Rydberg atoms make their features directly observable
using current experimental technology. In the second part
of my talk I will discuss the prospect of forming strongly
correlated electron gases starting from ultracold Rydberg
atoms in optical lattices. I will describe our progress in
electronic structure calculations for Rydberg atoms with
electrons that are delocalized over the optical lattice. I will
explain how this system might form a Rydberg crystal with
strongly correlated electrons, a spatial periodicity of several
hundred nanometers, and coherent dynamics on
experimentally resolvable picosecond time scales. I will
present the exciting properties that such an electronic
system might possess and discuss some of the major
challenges in realizing them.
