1. Induced THz transitions in Rydberg caesium atoms for application in antihydrogen experiments
- Author
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Emiliya Dimova, Daniel Comparat, Mélissa Vieille-Grosjean, C. Malbrunot, Z. Mazzotta, T. Wolz, Laboratoire Aimé Cotton (LAC), and École normale supérieure - Cachan (ENS Cachan)-Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
CERN Lab ,Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) ,Other Fields of Physics ,FOS: Physical sciences ,chemistry.chemical_element ,02 engineering and technology ,Photoionization ,physics.atom-ph ,01 natural sciences ,Physics - Atomic Physics ,symbols.namesake ,photon: particle source ,0103 physical sciences ,Physics::Atomic and Molecular Clusters ,Spontaneous emission ,Physics::Atomic Physics ,010306 general physics ,Antihydrogen ,Physics ,photon: production ,antihydrogen: production ,Optical physics ,bibliography ,binding energy ,photon: energy ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-GEN-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/General Physics [physics.gen-ph] ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,chemistry ,atom: ground state ,Excited state ,Caesium ,Rydberg formula ,symbols ,cesium: atom ,atom: excited state ,Atomic physics ,0210 nano-technology ,Ground state - Abstract
Antihydrogen atoms are produced at CERN in highly excited Rydberg states. However, precision measurements require anti-atoms in ground state. Whereas experiments currently rely on spontaneous emission only, simulations have shown that THz light can be used to stimulate the decay towards ground state and thus increase the number of anti-atoms available for measurements. We review different possibilities at hand to generate light in the THz range required for the purpose of stimulated deexcitation. We demonstrate the effect of a blackbody type light source, which however presents drawbacks for this application including strong photoionization. Further, we report on the first THz transitions in a beam of Rydberg caesium atoms induced by photomixers and conclude with the implications of the results for the antihydrogen case.[graphic not available: see fulltext][graphic not available: see fulltext] Antihydrogen atoms are produced at CERN in highly excited Rydberg states. However, precision measurements require anti-atoms in ground state. Whereas experiments currently rely on spontaneous emission only, simulations have shown that THz light can be used to stimulate the decay towards ground state and thus increase the number of anti-atoms available for measurements. We review different possibilities at hand to generate light in the THz range required for the purpose of stimulated deexcitation. We demonstrate the effect of a blackbody type light source, which however presents drawbacks for this application including strong photoionization. Further, we report on the first THz transitions in a beam of Rydberg caesium atoms induced by photomixers and conclude with the implications of the results for the antihydrogen case.
- Published
- 2021