High-resolution Ion Microscope

This project aims at the spatially resolved investigation of ultracold Rydberg physics. To this end, our experimental apparatus is designed to combine the ability of producing ultracold quantum gases of rubidium and lithium with the controlled creation of individual Rydberg atoms. An ion microscope allows for the spatial resolution of the Rydberg atoms. Research goals are the investigation of strongly-interacting quantum matter and the creation of (heteronuclear) Rydberg molecules either as a microscopic correlation probe for degenerate quantum gases or as a novel tool to study ultracold ion-atom scattering.

Our experimental apparatus (see figure 2) is designed to produce ultracold quantum gases of rubidium and lithium. Starting with hot atomic beams from two ovens, the first slowing step is provided by a two-species Zeeman slower. Next, further cooling is achieved by a MOT which is followed by an optical transport of the cold atomic clouds to the science chamber where evaporation cooling in an optical dipole trap will finally yield ultracold trapped dilute atomic clouds.

An in-vacuum asphere and an electric field control (see icon) inside the science chamber will allow for the creation and control of single Rydberg atoms.

To efficiently detect the single Rydberg atoms, we will employ either electric field or photoionization. A Rydberg ion imaging system, consisting of an ion microscope (see icon) and a delay-line detector, will finally allow to record the Rydberg ions with temporal and spatial resolution.