Rydberg Interaction-Induced Distortion of the Autler–Townes Spectra in Cold Lithium Atoms.

In this article, effects of the strong long-range interaction of Rydberg atoms on the Autler–Townes splitting spectrum are investigated. Preliminary results are obtained for various excitation times and Rydberg atom densities. The 2 S 1 / 2 and 2 P 1 / 2 levels of lithium-7 are coupled with strong laser field and probed by another laser via excitation into a 70 S Rydberg level. Interactions between Rydberg atoms excited by the probe beam lead to the broadening of the Autler–Townes spectra. At high concentrations of Rydberg atoms, a suppression of the excitation of the Autler–Townes peak at red detuning is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]