Improvements to the Dipole Blockade Mallory Walker University of Michigan REU 2006 Georg Raithel SB149

Introduction to Rydberg Atoms Excited; high n Very responsive to E and B fields Large van der Waals interaction potentials, which scale as n 11 /R 6 Picture from PRL 95, (2005)

Introduction to Dipole Blockade Finite range of vdW One atom per “bubble”

Counting Statistics Measure of effectiveness of blockade Q≡ ≡ Q<0 indicates sub-Poissonian Best yet is Q=-0.52

External Cavity Diode Laser My solo project for the summer Replacement for the old 5S  5P laser Specs Homemade Nearly as good Much cheaper Finished in week 8

External Cavity Diode Laser

Shop Projects

My Laser

Lasers for the Blockade Need quality lasers with narrow linewidth Realign every day; ensure maximum power output Lock the lasers Some locks extremely sensitive, especially 5S  5P laser

Current Modulating Circuit Reduced linewidth by factor of 4-5 Made a duplicate for the 5S  5P laser Peak lock instead of side lock Changed switch location

Circuit Diagram

Noise Difference ~1.4 MHz~600 kHzLinewidth

Dipole Blockade Optical Table AnyQuestions?AnyQuestions?